Lot 49: Thurn and Taxis

[Heikki Raudaskoski]

Hi,

just want to add the following well-known bit of information to
the replies of jbor and Michel:

"Princess Marie von Thurn und Taxis-Hohenlohe sought Rilke out in
Paris in 1909 and invited him to tea. Quickly she became a close
friend, second only to Lou [Andreas-Salomé], and his leading patron.
>From 1910 he frequented her castle of Duino on the Adriatic (now
in Croatia). He was still susceptible to fits of depression, and
although sometimes he still yielded to them, the Princess was
sometimes able to counter it with common sense. He complained of
memory loss, migraines, malaises caused by weather, and neurotic
symptoms. Doctors and friends suggested psychoanalysis; but Rilke,
though he met Freud, countenanced nothing that might disturb his
creative economy.

>From 1910 to 1914 he travelled widely, through North Africa, Egypt
and Spain, and between various Thurn-und-Taxis residences. [...]
Spiritualism entered his life: séances at Duino impressed him
though he was sceptical about details of trance revelations."

http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3793


Heikki