MOSCHELES, Felix, British portrait painter: b. London, 8 Feb. 1833; d. Tunbridge Wells, January 1918. He was the son of Ignaz Moscheles, the distinguished pianist and com poser, and the life-long friend of the great Mendelssohn. Felix was educated at King's College, London, and was then sent to Ham burg and Karlsruhe. His childhood was spent amid a circle of literary and artistic celebrities, including Mendelssohn, Joachim, Malibran, Labtache and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In later years the list was extended by many of the most famous characters of the age. In 1846 his father migrated to Leipzig to take over the directorship of the Conservatoire. Here Felix was taught drawing and architecture. In 1850 he went to Paris to pursue his art studies, ar riving in the days of the Republic which fol lowed the flight of Louis Philippe, and he wit nessed the coup d'itat which placed Napoleon III on the throne. A lucky arrest brought Moscheles into touch with Mme. Achille Fould, whose husband was then at the head of affairs, and who was a friend of the Moscheles family. The young artist was introduced into the best circles of Parisian society. At the Atelier Gleyre, where he studied, he made the acquaint ance of Du Maurier, afterward the famous Punch artist. Moscheles pursued his later
studies in Antwerp, where Alma-Tadema, Maris, Neuhuys and Heyermans were his fel low-students. He afterward opened a studio and settled in London, where he and Du Maurier formed a merry circle with Poynter, Whistler, Stacy Marks and Charles Keene. In 1862 he painted a portrait of Mazzini, which after the latter's death he offered to the Italian nation, but the offer was refused. Moscheles had long been interested in the question of uni versal peace and international arbitration. He discussed this subject with President Cleveland during a visit to America in the '80's, when he crossed the Atlantic with Henry Irving, carrying an introduction from Robert Browning. He painted Cleveland's portrait and later one of Browning, which is now in the Armour Institute, Chicago. Among his works are studies of Gounod, Rubinstein and Sir H. M. Stanley. He exhibited in Antwerp, Paris and London, and published two volumes of autobiography, In Bohemia with Du Manner' and of an Autobiography,' besides editing Mendelssohn's letters to his parents. He was president of the International Arbitra tion and Peace Association and of the London Esperanto Club.