Nikola Tesla's Blue Portrait
Above: Director of Nordsee Museum, Dr. Sven-Hinrich Siemers and Peter Stojanovic, Founder, Tesla Society of Switzerland holding the copy of the famous Nikola Tesla "Blue Portrait" now for sale.

One excellent copy of Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait" done by the Nordsee Museum, Husum (North Germany) is now on sale by the Tesla Society of Switzerland (Peter Stojanovic). If interested you can contact the Tesla Society of Switzerland:

P: +41 (71) 288 66 93

F: +41 (71) 288 69 93

info@teslasociety.ch (max. 10 MB)

http://www.teslasociety.ch

Nikola Tesla's Famous "Blue Portrait" Discovered After 85 years at NordseeMuseum, Husum, Northern Germany

Nikola Tesla "Blue Portrait"
Above: Nikola Tesla's famous "blue portrait". Image taken from allaboutesla.com and copyright Fotoarchiv Museumsverbund Nordfriesland. This portrait was finally rediscovered at NordseeMuseum, town of Husum, North Germany.

New Times Article March 2, 1916

Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait" by Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy was used on the Time magazine cover for Tesla's 75th birthday in 1931

Time Magazine Nikola Tesla
Above: On his 75th birthday in 1931, Nikola Tesla's photo appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait" by Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy was used on the Time magazine cover for Tesla's 75th birthday in 1931.
On this occasion, Tesla received congratulatory letters from more than 70 pioneers in science and engineering. These letters were mounted and presented to Tesla in the form of a testimonial volume. Among those who expressed indebtedness and appreciation were Albert Einstein, Robert A. Millikan, Lee De Forest, William H. Bragg, E.N. da C. Andrade, E. V. Appleton, Arthur H. Compton, J. B. Whitehead, B. A. Behrend, Andre Blondel, Count George von Arco, Jonathan Zenneck, L. W. Austin, Addams S. McAllister, and W. F. G. Swann.

Above: Testimonial volume honoring Tesla's 75th birthday. This is the cover page of the testimonial volume containing letters of congratulations from 70 scientists to Tesla for his 75th birthday in 1931. This volume of letters to Tesla is currently in the Museum of Nikola Tesla in Belgrade, Serbia.

Nikola Tesla "blue portrait" by the Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy

The portrait measures 48 by 53 inches and was intended to be shown under blue light illumination. It was first exhibited in March 1916 at a reception given at the Princess's studio in New York City. The "blue portrait" was sold at auction on April 19, 1924 after the artist's death. Nikola Tesla's famous "blue portrait" was finally rediscovered at NordseeMuseum, town of Husum, North Germany.

Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy

Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy was a famous painter who had painted portraits of all the crowned heads of Europe, and in 1894 she was given the coveted Art Gold Medal of the Berlin Academy. She was born in Hungary in 1865 and was a celebrity in Europe and America. She had married and quickly divorced a Russian prince and had a astounding private income reputed to be a million dollars a year. She was an accomplished portrait painter.

Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy came to America in 1899 to paint portraits of our countries one hundred greatest public figures. She was also known as a animal lover and any publicity about her always included something about her many pets or animals welfare.

When she arrived in New York City a public announcement was made that she and her party-and her pets- would be welcomed on arrival in New York City at the Plaza Hotel, one of the world's most luxurious hotels.

She died in New York City in 1924 and all her belongings including her famous Tesla "blue portrait" was sold at auction after her death.

The following text was taken from Museumverbund Nordfriesland, Press Release, March 1st, 2009:

Museumsverbund Nordfriesland Press Release March 1, 2009

After 85 years the "blue portrait" of AC-inventor Nikola Tesla is rediscovered!

At NordseeMuseum Husum, a unique oil-painting from New York City, thought to be lost for 85 years, has been rediscovered in our archives. The treasure found might correctly be called a sensation, as the canvas shows the only portrait of the famous inventor of Alternating Current and the radio, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943).

Tesla has been called a "Master of Lightning", "the genius, who lit the world"; or: "He invented the future." No superlative seems too big to characterize this brilliant inventor, whom the world owes not only radio and ‘electricity from the grid, i.e. A.C.-generators, -transformers, and –motors, but remote control and fluorescent lamps as well. The first power station on an industrial scale at Niagara-Falls was equipped with turbines based on Tesla’s Polyphase System, the power grid still feeding the world with electrical energy. Maybe the work of Nikola Tesla can be summarized best in the words of physics-Nobel-prizewinner Arthur Holly Compton: "Tesla is entitled to the enduring gratitude of mankind.”

Hard to believe but Nikola Tesla only once in his lifetime sat for a portrait, and he did this only for the painter-princess Vilma Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy. The blue light for illuminating the setting was installed by the inventor himself at her atelier. When on March 1st 1916 the public could examine the portrait for the first time, it made a blue impression, an effect created by blue filters placed in front of specially designed lamps. This is how the oil-painting got its name as the "blue portrait".

The NordseeMuseum will present this unique treasure on March 2nd 2009, 11 o’clock at a public press presentation

- first time ever in EUROPE

- first time after 85 years

The follow-up exhibition will be "Mythos, Strom und eine Malerfürstin. Das "blue portrait" von Nikola Tesla, dem Mann, der die Welt erleuchtete". (Myth, electricity and the painter-princess. The "blue portrait" of Nikola Tesla, the "man who lit he world").
The exhibition is supported by Nord-Ostsee Sparkasse and Husumer Stadtwerke.

History of the re-discovery

When the only! portrait of Nikola Tesla was completed, it was presented March 1st 1916 in New York in „blue“ light– naturally in the blue, artificial light of Tesla’s fluorescent lights. It created a sensation within the U.S., as until then inventor of world fame Nikola Tesla refused to sit for a portrait – and he never did it again.

When painter Vilma Elisabeth Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy died in 1923, the portrait was to be auctioned. From that day on the ‚Icon of the Tesla-parish‘ was missing.

The painting was bought, together with others by the same author, by New York merchant Ludwig Nissen. Since that time the painting was part of the Nissen-collection, resident at the Nissenhouse Husum since 1937, now called “NordseeMuseum”. As early as 1991 the art historian Dr. Cornelius Steckner could assign the painting, taken inventory as „portrait of a man“, as a picture of Nikola Tesla. It was not identified as the ‚blue portrait‘. Large-scale investigations by the Tesla-museum in Belgrad (Serbia), a.o.t. at Tegernsee in Germany, about one year ago again led to Dr. Steckner and Dr. Astrid Fick from NordseeMuseum Husum to finally identify the painting as the “blue portrait” of Nikola Tesla.

At the beginning of 2009 the NordseeMuseum Husum decided to restore the portrait, a task excellently executed by Susanne Gerlach.

Links:

Email from Dr. Sven-Hinrich Siemers:

Ladies and Gentleman, dear colleagues,

at NordseeMuseum Husum, a unique oil-painting from New York City, thought to be lost for 85 years, has been rediscovered in our archives. The treasure found might correctly be called a sensation, as the canvas shows the only portrait of the famous inventor of Alternating Current and the radio, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943).

Tesla has been called a „Master of lightning“, „the genius, who lit the world“; or: „He invented the future.“ No superlative seems too big to characterize this brilliant inventor, whom the world owes not only radio and ‘electricity from the grid, i.e. A.C.-generators, -transformers, and –motors, but remote control and fluorescent lamps as well. The first power station on an industrial scale at Niagara-Falls was equipped with turbines based on Tesla’s Polyphase System, the power grid still feeding the world with electrical energy. Maybe the work of Nikola Tesla can be summarized best in the words of physics-Nobel-prizewinner Arthur Holly Compton: „Tesla is entitled to the enduring gratitude of mankind.”

The NordseeMuseum will present this unique treasure on March 2nd 2009, 11 o’clock at a public press presentation

- first time ever in EUROPE

- first time after 85 years!

We wish to invite You to that press presentation! A picture of restoring-work can be send in advance. More information we can offer right after the press presentation - please ask!

Yours sincerely Sven-Hinrich Siemers

______________________________
Dr. Sven-Hinrich Siemers
- Geschäftsführer, Museumsleiter - museums manager
Museumsverbund Nordfriesland - museumsnetwork northern Friesland
Herzog-Adolf-Straße 25
D-25813 Husum
T: xx49-4841-2545
FAX: xx49-4841-63280
@: siemers@museumsverbund-nordfriesland.de

www.museumsverbund-nordfriesland.de

Vesti Cover
Above: Renowned Serbian Newspaper "Vesti".

Vesti
Above: Article from the renowned Serbian Newspaper "Vesti" about Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait". The article was written by known Serbian journalist Jovo Batkovic.

Seal



Welcome to the Tesla Memorial Society of New York Website
Copy of Nikola Tesla's Famous "Blue Portrait" for Sale Above: Director of Nordsee Museum, Dr. Sven-Hinrich Siemers and Peter Stojanovic, Founder, Tesla Society of Switzerland holding the copy of the famous Nikola Tesla "Blue Portrait" now for sale. One excellent copy of Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait" done by the Nordsee Museum, Husum (North Germany) is now on sale by the Tesla Society of Switzerland (Peter Stojanovic). If interested you can contact the Tesla Society of Switzerland: P: +41 (71) 288 66 93 F: +41 (71) 288 69 93 info@teslasociety.ch (max. 10 MB) http://www.teslasociety.ch Nikola Tesla's Famous "Blue Portrait" Discovered After 85 years at NordseeMuseum, Husum, Northern Germany Above: Nikola Tesla's famous "blue portrait". Image taken from allaboutesla.com and copyright Fotoarchiv Museumsverbund Nordfriesland. This portrait was finally rediscovered at NordseeMuseum, town of Husum, North Germany. New York Times Article from March 2, 1916 about Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy reception displaying Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait" at her studio at 109 East Thirty-Ninth Street, New York City: Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait" by Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy was used on the Time magazine cover for Tesla's 75th birthday in 1931 On this occasion, Tesla received congratulatory letters from more than 70 pioneers in science and engineering Above: On his 75th birthday in 1931, Nikola Tesla's photo appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait" by Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy was used on the Time magazine cover for Tesla's 75th birthday in 1931. On this occasion, Tesla received congratulatory letters from more than 70 pioneers in science and engineering. These letters were mounted and presented to Tesla in the form of a testimonial volume. Among those who expressed indebtedness and appreciation were Albert Einstein, Robert A. Millikan, Lee De Forest, William H. Bragg, E.N. da C. Andrade, E. V. Appleton, Arthur H. Compton, J. B. Whitehead, B. A. Behrend, Andre Blondel, Count George von Arco, Jonathan Zenneck, L. W. Austin, Addams S. McAllister, and W. F. G. Swann. Brochure for the Invitation to the Art Exposition in NordseeMuseum Husum (North Germany) - Nikola Tesla's famous "Blue Portrait" will be on display from March 29 - June 14, 2009 Tel: 0 48 41 - 25 45 Fax: 0 48 41 - 6 32 80 info@museumsverbund-nordfriesland.de Above: Testimonial volume honoring Tesla's 75th birthday. This is the cover page of the testimonial volume containing letters of congratulations from 70 scientists to Tesla for his 75th birthday in 1931. This volume of letters to Tesla is currently in the Museum of Nikola Tesla in Belgrade, Serbia. Nikola Tesla "blue portrait" by the Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy The portrait measures 48 by 53 inches and was intended to be shown under blue light illumination. It was first exhibited in March 1916 at a reception given at the Princess's studio in New York City. The "blue portrait" was sold at auction on April 19, 1924 after the artist's death. Nikola Tesla's famous "blue portrait" was finally rediscovered at NordseeMuseum, town of Husum, North Germany. Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy was a famous painter who had painted portraits of all the crowned heads of Europe, and in 1894 she was given the coveted Art Gold Medal of the Berlin Academy. She was born in Hungary in 1865 and was a celebrity in Europe and America. She had married and quickly divorced a Russian prince and had a astounding private income reputed to be a million dollars a year. She was an accomplished portrait painter. Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy came to America in 1899 to paint portraits of our countries one hundred greatest public figures. She was also known as a animal lover and any publicity about her always included something about her many pets or animals welfare. When she arrived in New York City a public announcement was made that she and her party-and her pets- would be welcomed on arrival in New York City at the Plaza Hotel, one of the world's most luxurious hotels. She died in New York City in 1924 and all her belongings including her famous Tesla "blue portrait" was sold at auction after her death. The Tesla Memorial Society of New York and millions of Tesla admirers around the world are grateful to Dr. Sven-Hinrich Siemers, NordseeMuseum Manager, for notifying the public about the important discovery of Nikola Tesla's famous "blue portrait." Dr. Siemers, with NordseeMuseum, will present Nikola Tesla's "blue portrait" on March 2nd, 2009 at 11'o clock at a public press presentation. The following text was taken from Museumverbund Nordfriesland, Press Release, March 1st, 2009: Press Release March 1, 2009 After 85 years the "blue portrait" of AC-inventor Nikola Tesla is rediscovered! At NordseeMuseum Husum, a unique oil-painting from New York City, thought to be lost for 85 years, has been rediscovered in our archives. The treasure found might correctly be called a sensation, as the canvas shows the only portrait of the famous inventor of Alternating Current and the radio, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943). Tesla has been called a "Master of Lightning", "the genius, who lit the world"; or: "He invented the future." No superlative seems too big to characterize this brilliant inventor, whom the world owes not only radio and ‘electricity from the grid, i.e. A.C.-generators, -transformers, and –motors, but remote control and fluorescent lamps as well. The first power station on an industrial scale at Niagara-Falls was equipped with turbines based on Tesla’s Polyphase System, the power grid still feeding the world with electrical energy. Maybe the work of Nikola Tesla can be summarized best in the words of physics-Nobel-prizewinner Arthur Holly Compton: "Tesla is entitled to the enduring gratitude of mankind.” Hard to believe but Nikola Tesla only once in his lifetime sat for a portrait, and he did this only for the painter-princess Vilma Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy. The blue light for illuminating the setting was installed by the inventor himself at her atelier. When on March 1st 1916 the public could examine the portrait for the first time, it made a blue impression, an effect created by blue filters placed in front of specially designed lamps. This is how the oil-painting got its name as the "blue portrait". The NordseeMuseum will present this unique treasure on March 2nd 2009, 11 o’clock at a public press presentation - first time ever in EUROPE - first time after 85 years The follow-up exhibition will be "Mythos, Strom und eine Malerfürstin. Das "blue portrait" von Nikola Tesla, dem Mann, der die Welt erleuchtete". (Myth, electricity and the painter-princess. The "blue portrait" of Nikola Tesla, the "man who lit he world"). The exhibition is supported by Nord-Ostsee Sparkasse and Husumer Stadtwerke. History of the re-discovery When the only! portrait of Nikola Tesla was completed, it was presented March 1st 1916 in New York in „blue“ light– naturally in the blue, artificial light of Tesla’s fluorescent lights. It created a sensation within the U.S., as until then inventor of world fame Nikola Tesla refused to sit for a portrait – and he never did it again. When painter Vilma Elisabeth Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy died in 1923, the portrait was to be auctioned. From that day on the ‚Icon of the Tesla-parish‘ was missing. The painting was bought, together with others by the same author, by New York merchant Ludwig Nissen. Since that time the painting was part of the Nissen-collection, resident at the Nissenhouse Husum since 1937, now called “NordseeMuseum”. As early as 1991 the art historian Dr. Cornelius Steckner could assign the painting, taken inventory as „portrait of a man“, as a picture of Nikola Tesla. It was not identified as the ‚blue portrait‘. Large-scale investigations by the Tesla-museum in Belgrad (Serbia), a.o.t. at Tegernsee in Germany, about one year ago again led to Dr. Steckner and Dr. Astrid Fick from NordseeMuseum Husum to finally identify the painting as the “blue portrait” of Nikola Tesla. At the beginning of 2009 the NordseeMuseum Husum decided to restore the portrait, a task excellently executed by Susanne Gerlach. Links: http://www.teslasociety.ch http://www.tesla-museum.org http://www.ebe-online.de/home/tgobmaie/tesla/index.htm http://www.allabouttesla.com http://www.serbien-montenegro.de/html/serbien_-_nikola_tesla.html Email from Dr. Sven-Hinrich Siemers: Ladies and Gentleman, dear colleagues, at NordseeMuseum Husum, a unique oil-painting from New York City, thought to be lost for 85 years, has been rediscovered in our archives. The treasure found might correctly be called a sensation, as the canvas shows the only portrait of the famous inventor of Alternating Current and the radio, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943). Tesla has been called a „Master of lightning“, „the genius, who lit the world“; or: „He invented the future.“ No superlative seems too big to characterize this brilliant inventor, whom the world owes not only radio and ‘electricity from the grid, i.e. A.C.-generators, -transformers, and –motors, but remote control and fluorescent lamps as well. The first power station on an industrial scale at Niagara-Falls was equipped with turbines based on Tesla’s Polyphase System, the power grid still feeding the world with electrical energy. Maybe the work of Nikola Tesla can be summarized best in the words of physics-Nobel-prizewinner Arthur Holly Compton: „Tesla is entitled to the enduring gratitude of mankind.” Hard to believe but Nikola Tesla only once in his lifetime sat for a portrait, and he did this only for the painter-princess Vilma Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy. The blue light for illuminating the setting was installed by the inventor himself at her atelier. When on March 1st 1916 the public could examine the portrait for the first time, it made a blue impression, an effect created by blue filters placed in front of specially designed lamps. This is how the oil-painting got its name as the ‚blue portrait‘. The NordseeMuseum will present this unique treasure on March 2nd 2009, 11 o’clock at a public press presentation - first time ever in EUROPE - first time after 85 years! We wish to invite You to that press presentation! A picture of restoring-work can be send in advance. More information we can offer right after the press presentation - please ask! Yours sincerely Sven-Hinrich Siemers Yours sincerely Sven-Hinrich Siemers ______________________________ Dr. Sven-Hinrich Siemers - Geschäftsführer, Museumsleiter - museums manager Museumsverbund Nordfriesland - museumsnetwork northern Friesland Herzog-Adolf-Straße 25 D-25813 Husum T: xx49-4841-2545 FAX: xx49-4841-63280 @: siemers@museumsverbund-nordfriesland.de www.museumsverbund-nordfriesland.de Above: Renowned Serbian Newspaper "Vesti". Above: Article from the renowned Serbian Newspaper "Vesti" about Nikola Tesla's "Blue Portrait". The article was written by known Serbian journalist Jovo Batkovic.