Mathilde Wesendonck

Vocation

Notable

German poet and author. She is best known as the friend and possibly mistress of Richard Wagner. In 1853 Wagner became infatuated with Mathilde and he wrote a piano sonate for her. She certainly became his muse, but it's not clear if their relationship was also sexual. Mathilda was opposed against vivisection and under her influence Wagner developed an interest in the right of animals. In 1857/1858 Wagner composed his "Wesendonck Lieder" ("Wesendonck Songs"), based on five of her poems. He used these songs for "Tristan and Isolde". After Wagner's wife Minna intercepted a love letter to Mathilda on 7 April 1858 they had to break off their liaison and he left home on 17 August 1858. In 1863 he still wrote in a letter to Eliza Wille that Mathilda was his first and only love. Apart from writing poetry, Mathilda wrote children's books and also translated works into German. She died 31 August 1902, Traunblick am Traunsee. Link to Wikipedia biography