Staré Mesto in Praha, Czech Republic — Capital City Region (Historical Capital of Bohemia)

Here Albert Einstein Played the Violin

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

1. Here Albert Einstein Played the Violin Marker

Inscription.
{Marker text in Czech:}
V tomto domĕ „U Jedworožce,“ v salonu Berty Fantové, v letech 1911 až 1912 hrával na housle a setnával se zde s přǎteli, spisovateli Maxem Brodem a Franzem Kafkou, Profesor Teureticke Fyziky na Pražkĕ Univerzitě, tvŭrce Teurie Relativity, nositel nubeluvy ceny,
Albert Einstein

{Marker text in English:}
Here, in the salon of Mrs. Berta Fanta, Albert Einstein, Professor at Prague University in 1911 to 1912, founder of the Theory of Relativity, Nobel Prize winner, played the violin and met his friends, famous writers Max Brod and Franz Kafka.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 50° 5.235′ N, 14° 25.309′ E. Marker is in Praha. It is in Staré Mesto. Marker can be reached from Celetná. The marker site is in the southeastern corner of the Old Town Square. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Praha 110 00, Czech Republic. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Franz Kafka (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); Rudolf Kremlička (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Francis Skaryna (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Birthplace of Jaroslav Heyrovský

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(approx. half a kilometer away); Bohuslav Balbín (approx. half a kilometer away); Johannes Kepler (approx. half a kilometer away); Vojta Náprstek (approx. half a kilometer away); Church of St. Salvador (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Praha.

Also see . . .
1. Albert Einstein lived in Prague as well. Prague.net's page on Albert Einstein's stay in Prague:
"...Einstein’s years in Prague are an important milestone in the life of this important researcher and philosopher. In Prague Albert Einstein found – according to his own writings – the necessary composure to give the basic thought of the general theory of relativity (1908) a more definite shape. During his 17-month lasting stay in Prague, Einstein wrote 11 scientific works, 5 of them on radiation mathematics and on quantum theory of the solids." (Submitted on November 6, 2010.)

2. Albert Einstein's Years in Prague, 1911-1912. Einstein-website.de's page on Einstein's years in Prague:
"Einstein in the Jewish community of Prague: ... Einstein payed special attention to the philosophical-literary debating circle in the salon Bertha Fanta on the Prague Altstaedter Ring. Especially here before the Altstaedter
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

2. Here Albert Einstein Played the Violin Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here, mounted to the right of the entryway column.
Ring in the pharmacy "Zum Einhorn" not only the Jewish Jeunesse dorée but also the musical and literary society from the Jewish old town centre met. The famous participants here were the writers Max Brod, Franz Kafka, the philosopher and active Zionist Hugo Bergmann and the physicist Philipp Frank, the later successor to Einstein in Prague. All of them were passionate musicians and debaters. Einstein was welcome in this salon and took part in the literary discussions and musical events.... Einstein liked coming here with his violin because the cousin of Professor Winternitz was a music teacher. Apart from these social relations Einstein was totally absorbed by the deep insights in the physical nature of room, time, mass and gravitation...." (Submitted on November 6, 2010.)

Einstein played the violin here.... image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

3. Einstein played the violin here....

Closeup of artwork on marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

4. Closeup of artwork on marker

To the right of Einstein's profile is a seemingly abstract image. Closer examination of the image reveals it to be composed of four separate motifs: the equation, E=Mc² ; a violin; the iconic Charles Bridge and one of its towers; a graphic representation of his finding that the equivalence principle demands a refraction of the rays of light at the sun that can be observed.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,813 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 6, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.