Walter Ernest Webster (1878-1959)

The Play is Ended closely relates to Webster's Souvenir of Schumann's 'Carnival' (The Leverhulme Collection, Sotheby's, London, 27 June 2001, lot 459) a homage to the German composer's musical description of masked revelers. In both pictures the seated ballerina is most probably a representation of Clara Weick, the composer's future wife, while the reticent Pierrot represents the dreamier and more contemplative side of Schumann's personality.