Signature of Mozart on the Burial Record of His Mother

What it is

This is a facsimile of Mozart's signature, reproduced by archivist Auguste Jal in his 1872 Dictionnaire critique, taken from the burial record of Mozart's mother, Anna Maria Pertl, dated 3 July 1778, at the church of Saint-Eustache in Paris. The original parish register was destroyed by fire during the Paris Commune uprisings of 1871.

Why it matters

This signature documents a sorrowful moment in Mozart's life: his mother's death in Paris during a difficult job-hunting trip in 1778. It is a rare surviving trace, through later reproduction, of his presence at this family event.

Look closer

• Why do we only have a copy of this signature rather than the original document?
• What might this document suggest about Mozart's life and travels at age 22?
• What is lost when we rely on a facsimile instead of an original record?