The True Face of Mozart? Facial Reconstructions of the Prodigy Composer | Royalty Now

What did Mozart Really Look Like?
The true appearance of Mozart is surprisingly contentious - He’s even been described as the most famous person whose true likeness is the least recognized. All of his portraits look a little different. His family members - as well as historians - have commented on this. His sister Nannerl said that she had “never seen so many portraits of my brother that are so different when seen side by side, but that nevertheless all look like him.”
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Mozart scholar Arthur Schurig said, “Mozart has been the subject of more portraits that have no connection with his actual appearance than any other famous man.”
Alfred Einstein, a Mozart specialist said: “We have nothing to give us an idea of Mozart's physical appearance, except for a few mediocre canvases that don’t even resemble each other.”
So what then, is his true appearance?
Let’s start with some portraits that were created during his lifetime -
This Della Croce portrait of the Mozart family was made from life around 1780, and gives us a good look at the young Wolfgang.
He’s also seen here in the Bologna portrait (not that it’s a 1777 copy of a lost 1770 original). He’s shockingly only 14 in this image. His father said his son was ill the day this portrait was painting, and that it wasn’t even a good work of art - but also added that it looks “very much like him”.
Another is this unfinished image, made by his brother-in-law, which Mozart’s wife said was the most accurate image, but somehow looks the most different from the others.
We know some details from the people he lived and worked with. A colleague Michael Kelly said that Mozar was very thin and pale (he was only about 5’ tall), with abundant dark blond hair. He was very fond of billiards (and always won). Drank punch (with little moderation), and was a kind-hearted man with a good sense of humor.
We also know he had large blue eyes, a strong nose, and a head considered too big for his body.
He was considered a sickly child, he’d had smallpox in his youth which marked his face, and suffered from poor dental health and toothaches. His poor health, I suspect, is a reason he always looks much older than his years in some of these portraits.
His friends agreed that Mozart knew he wasn’t a man who was exceptionally attractive, so he made up for it by wearing luxurious clothing, and always caring meticulously about his appearance.
One small indicator of possible self-consciousness is that we don’t see his left ear in any paintings. You see, he had a defect of the left ear (we now refer to this as “mozart’s ear”) that changed the shape quite drastically. He even made this watercolor image of it himself.
I’m going to use the best quality image we have of Mozart to bring him to life - this 1819 version by Barbara Krafft. While it was not made from life, Krafft actually worked closely with Mozart’s sister on this version to create a kind of “definitive likeness”. Kind of like what I try to do these days. She used 3 faithful works as models for this image. Krafft and Nannerl agreed that Mozart hadn’t been painted by the most talented artists of his time, and they wanted to have a good portrait of him.
This video creation and final image are ©Royalty Now.

[@NicoleValasques]

New crush detected: modern facial reconstruction of Mozart❤

[@UltimateDorito]

Okay but for real though why is he so cute?? Not a good looking man my foot!! 😅

[@hoppas77]

@@UltimateDorito at 4:33 he has thick hair, a nice smile, pretty eyes, dark eyebrows, and a strong chin. I think he is nice looking as well. He may not get on GQ's most handsome man of the year but in the photo, he is cute and a genius...what's not to like.

[@maryanneslater9675]

@@UltimateDorito Yes, very cute in a geeky sort of way. The ideas of what is handsome or beautiful change from period to period so he probably just wasn't considered good-looking in his time.

[@Somethingandtheotherthing]

Hear hear for the musical prodigy Mozart. I think he's very handsome in this facial reconstruction.

[@whatoncewas8480]

Right???! Handsome

[@sarsfeafronzi5197]

I don't know what it is, but all your recreations make me teary-eyed. As a musician, Mozart is a staple in the repertoire. Thank you for bringing his portraits to life

[@chefjohnwt]

oh good, I thought it was just me, but then again, using Trevor Kowalski's backing music may answer part of this question...

[@olesyadeshenko6532]

Same… makes me very teary at the end of every video 🥹🙏🏻

[@cariaus3758]

Same, these make me emotional & teary eyed. Truly amazing work.

[@nohaycancionessintigo2521]

Wolfgangerl! Mozart devotee here, and I think you’ve done a fantastic job. I thought you’d use the unfinished Lange because of what his wife thought of it, but what you went with is really wonderful. It makes me starstruck to see the modern version of him. Thank you so much.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

That one is just low quality and such an odd angle I decided not to work from it. I’m so glad you enjoyed it ❤️❤️

[@thesparkypilot]

Ahhhh these always make me tear up ❤. Especially when they smile! People I’ve studied about and wondered about in school or in life out of interest come alive at last….

[@psychicmediumlisamarie3235]

I’d love to see you feature all the Bronte siblings including their brother Branwell 💖

[@D.H.-mg2cz]

What I admire about your approsches is that you critically examine contemporary sources & are well informed about the recent research and base your recreation only on the most reliable. Outstanding!

[@K-Mariposa]

Gosh I loved this. He looks like someone I’d have liked to have known.

[@lmh4186]

Ohhhh this was so gorgeous. Love Mozart. Now he is alive for me. Thank you

[@helpinyerdasellavon]

Absolutely beautiful and heart touching recreations on W.A. Mozart, especially love his modern version, such a lovely smile. Your work is always delightful and so well documented. Thank you so much 🙏🏻💕

[@diegofuentes6783]

WOW!!! I never thought I would see Mozart in my lifetime!! 😅Great Recreations 👍

[@ryan7864]

Excellent job. Experts estimate that Mozart had an IQ somewhere around 150.

[@robgrune3284]

maybe so. but academic IQ means absolutely nothing in music, for which Mozart was a genius.

[@robgrune3284]

Your recreation brings Mozart close to us, as a friend we have yet to meet. Seeing his 'today' image cause me to choke, for he achieved such greatness in such a short lifetime. Imagine the grief of his father and family members.

[@kavithajohnson8031]

What a beautiful smile . Just took my breath away. Amazing work.

[@katharper655]

Amadeus is a poignantly likeable young man, or appearance-wise, SEEMS to be. "Engaging" might be a better word.

[@nancyhendershott1033]

I was wondering if you could recreate Joseph Merrick, the “Elephant man”, without his debilitating disease. He seems like such a kind a gentle soul.

[@kaybrown4010]

Wolfie! ❤

[@tallouse2146]

Thank you for being you and bringing history to life

[@karlsokalski4234]

The modern recreation of Mozart brought Barry Manilow to mind. I love your work!

[@barbarabaker3056]

Well done! Keep up the great work.

[@CanadianEh]

Love this! :) Thank you. I bet he would love this very much too! :)

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you so much!!

[@LT-ne1hr]

maybe...but you give him a grin and he looks like a cartoon character. Doesn't matter, it's his music that is eternal.

[@burningsandsexploration3711]

This is a truly wonderful depiction of him. Thank you!

[@zenmaster16]

I love that you were able to bring life to the man that’s brought so much joy to so many people. The addition of him smiling was perfect, he was someone who loved to laugh and be playful. He was someone who struggled with much personal tragedy and carried a lot of sadness with him (not uncommon for the time due to how difficult life was during that period), but he always chose to laugh and emit love. This is clear in his music and I’m sure he’s thanking you from beyond for bringing him back to life for this brief moment.

[@susanwoodcarver]

Excellent! Simply excellent! Thank you! 😊

[@lindaa.5740]

Wonderfully done - thank you!

[@anniehelman3516]

Excellent, the only problem is that he certainly couldn't have had such good teeth.

[@Crazymonsoon28]

I’m a big fan of your videos! They always make me appreciate history more. Would love to see videos on Indian history. It always saddens me that we don’t have enough information online about the emperors and empresses of India.

[@GenXfrom75]

Amazing 🎉❤😮 The type of guy I used to fall for in my youth 😂❤

[@shirleymontano9657]

Wonderful. Beautiful. Enjoyed so much. Love him. Thank you.

[@Vllencia]

The video narration says "he knew he was not exceptionally attractive". Either he did not assess himself well at the time, or the uploader made him more attractive in the final product. Because, with the new technology used, he seems like an attractive man. With good and nice teeth too!

[@M.Campbell]

The standards of beauty change, sometimes drastically, with the times. It's a subject I've been fascinated by for a long time.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

I think he would be much more handsome as a modern man. With a wig, pockmarks, and bad teeth, I think he was less attractive in his time.

[@Shrike58]

Somehow, I often find your modern interpretations of your subjects to be more flattering of the men in particular; Mozart is a good example of that. Louis XIV quaffing champagne on a VIP jet is even better.

[@krism.9363]

This is so beautiful! Thank you 🙏🏽

[@Kim.E347]

I love your work!

[@amboutte7918]

Such beautiful work!!

[@lisagalan6072]

Great work! In the modern-day appearance, he looks like a young Barry Manilow.

[@FantasticFaulkners]

If they make another movie about him they should cast Jeremy Allen White!!!

[@mordaciousfilms]

I thought the exact same damn thing when I saw a reconstruction the other day. Definitely!!!!

[@manuscriptsdontburn]

I love this contemporary rendition of Mozart.

[@MrsStepford]

I love these videos and find them so moving. It's wonderful to see these people as "real" people and smiling. The modern versions too, always touch my heart. Thank you.

[@sewmuchjoy]

Good job!

[@2000konnie]

Wow! I love this reconstruction, and especially version of how he would look today.

[@agnes8610]

I personally know at least 5 austrian men who look a lot like his recreation, you could argue that he must have a kind of typical Austrian face. This is so cool ❤

[@psychicmediumlisamarie3235]

You made Mozart look great ! ❤

[@learningliving2600]

I'm left completely jaw dropped speechless over her work, like usual. Incredible!

[@kayb.eastland1071]

Everytime you reveal your reconstructs I yell “YASSSSS” it never fails. You’re amazing girlie ❤✍️

[@lauradieckmann1102]

This really fits! 👍🏻

[@henryflorez9519]

I really enjoyed your recreation. By the way I love your voice too Thanks

[@barbdunn8886]

Well done!

[@wisteria808]

Fabulous!

[@michaelstusiak5902]

I have taught a Great Composers course at the college level. While I didn't really learn anything new, I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. Of course the reconstruction was a bonus.

[@wwbdwwbd]

Did you'all just make Mozart look like Moshe the yeshiva student?

[@GreenClassified]

😂😆 lol!!

[@rollwithitbaby2]

Maybe he wasn’t handsome by the standards of his time, today he would be a movie star.

[@patriot03062]

Fantastic

[@Dar-oc9bt]

As a cellist playing Mozart pieces, I must say I am quite astonished by the facial construction...

[@SafezoneExpert]

Stunning!

[@J_LorraineK]

I wonder why people were painted always with such a serious look on their faces? You can't really see a person until you see them smile, I think.

[@M.Campbell]

Dental hygiene wasn't the best. Possibly, many were self-conscious of their bad teeth.

[@fantasyfiction101]

They sat for a long period of time so I’d imagine a stoic look is easier to hold than a smile for three hours.

[@kennyl9094]

Outstanding work! Love all of your interpretations. King Henry the 8th as old and young would be a great addition.

[@Priscilla721000]

Wow! So interesting!

[@Linda-ot3pj]

You are so talented and let imaginations have a bit of satisfaction

[@loraawalker3618]

Awww. This was my very first celebrity crush, back when I was 8yo

[@straightarrow372]

Your reconstruction reminds me of Ruslan Sirota, a grammy winning pianist, who was also a child prodigy

[@susanross1651]

His face has character & is dam cute, & as such is far more attractive than traditional handsome.

[@AnAdorableWombat1]

He looked like such a sweet timid guy. He’d look like Sean penn in carlito’s way if he lived today 😂

[@rosanesilva6830]

Que incrivel esse vÍdeo , que alegria que é acompanhar a imaginação de como seria a face de nossos artistas preferidos.Obrigada por compartilhar.

[@LevCallahan]

Reconstructed, he has a strong resemblance to James McAvoy.

[@bigp2930]

Oh, and when he smiled...and came alive, how beautiful

[@mordaciousfilms]

There's some Nature VS Nurture at play with classic figures such as Mozart in regards to their age/how old they looked. I think the style, manner they wore their hair / wigs back then added to the age they appeared, as well as poor health conditions, scarcity of healthy foods and supplements that are by now easily accessible (vitamins and minerals are UNAVOIDABLE and in everything these days) thus we may just be in generally better health these days, contributing to a more youthful appearance. But I wouldn't be surprised if he DID look as depicted at the end of the video sans powdered wig and with the advent of modern medicine and nutrition.

[@SouthoftheHill]

My favorite characteristic about Mozart was despite being a musical genius, he still had a juvenile sense of humor.

[@maisonneuve]

These are incredibly addictive

[@moirad6579]

Very Nice... but i thought he had poor teeth 😂LOL Modern Mozart has a beautiful smile 😃

[@dragonflyflutterby2952]

This is amazing. It’s so incredibly fascinating! Thank you for this terrific look into the past. This has never been done before, and I wish I could share it with everyone! These should be shown in every History classroom too. I know I’m geeking out :) but who ever imagined, in a million years seeing what Jesus would really look like? Cleopatra, Mozart and Alexander The Great, all the people I’ve tried to visualize my whole life. Thank you for this, sincerely. You are extremely talented, and you’re waking up the past like never before and making us feel like we jumped into our very own time machines. Thank you again…

[@manuela6422]

Mi emoziona profondamente vedere questa immagine.

[@FilmFanization]

Great Video! Love your channel! Could you do the Rennaissance couple Artist Raphael and Margherita Luti Thier story is so interesting of how they kept their love a secret because of Scandel. Thank you!

[@mythologyworld]

Please do one on Agnès Sorel!

[@Indigoo0811]

I love it❤! Can you pls do marie dupplessis, la traviata pls 🌈❤

[@sewmuchjoy]

Whoa.

[@martyjones5750]

.. what a sweet and kind looking young man he would have been..✨❤️

[@eduardoferreira1963]

He is the GOAT!❤

[@ErendiraPerez-gj6lk]

He looks really handsome in the modern version. Though, why he is wearing glasses? I don't think there's a record of him saying he had poor sight. Or is there any information of that? Anyway, great job, I would totally be a fan and go to his concerts everywhere, just to see that charming smile!

[@teresagardiner153]

Very nice and informative! By the way, you left out his toilet humor, which he was very fond of. There's a lot of it in his letters. "There's a lot of farting during the night, And the farts resound with thunderous might." -- W.A. Mozart

[@CanadianEh]

Thanks! I bet Mozart woulda absolutely love this! :)

[@marydodge939]

He looks like the guy who plays Harry Potter. Super cute.

[@hollyAE]

Omg your first recreation look I might be alone in this but Mozart looks a lot like Simon Helberg from BBT, I’m sorry I can’t unsee it I think it’s both of there predominant noses 👃.

[@Luindir22]

if he were alive today he'd look like a metalhead

[@jendavis688]

Love this! Can you please do Anne Askew? I know she’s not royalty but she’s tied to Henry VIII. Her story is just so powerful.

[@whotfstolemyusernamewhtalo5949]

Could you make a video on beatrice cenci?

[@gabriellareid8630]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@lw2131]

He looks like a lot of Jewish grad students i knew back in the day 😊

[@sarahbgln]

Mozart was sexy back then, and he definitely is sexy now 🤩

[@WorldOfArtWorld]

Great video. Anyone who understands anything from things like astrology knows that he was an aquarius with moon in saggiatarius which, fot those who know, helps greatly to imagine how he looked.

[@jamesd7195]

The “Today” rendering looks a lot like French oboist Gabriel Pidoux.

[@littlehouseinthebigapple5716]

I mean… too bad he didn’t live in these days… we definitely have an appreciation for his type! Talented and, I hear charming. 😊😮‍💨

[@LindaLinda80Linda]

I do love thinking of Mozart looking just like your recreation. Before he married, one woman turned him down because his nose was ‘too big.’ What a fool.

[@biancakuo32]

I think I have a crush, too.

[@eusounadja5738]

You could make one video about Sappho of Lesbos

[@glennmckenzie1096]

I'm getting Daniel Radcliff vibes in the modern version. It'd be cool to know what decisions you were making as you created your work "I chose this jaw line because..." etc

[@gatopersa7565]

I'd like to see the real appearance of Carlos V (Carlos I of Spain) and Carlos II of Spain, the last Habsburg. Thank you.

[@suran396]

I am curious how you decide on hairstyle and clothing for the modern interpretation.

[@madponcho]

It would be awesome if y’all did Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire

[@irenebecker4815]

Modern rendition looks like a sweet, geeky college student.

[@FullPowerMasteryWithRa]

So Mozart is still alive. Hey buddy, we need to meet for coffee.