Google doodle marks Clara Schumann's birthday

13 September 2012, 10:45 | Updated: 22 August 2017, 12:48

Clara Schumann and her eight children are featured on Google's homepage today in celebration of her 193rd birthday.

Google are honouring one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era today on their homepage, replacing their logo with one of their trademark 'Google doodles'. The image features Clara Schumann, wife of composer Robert Schumann and a prolific musician in her own right, and their eight children.

Born on 13 September 1819, Clara Schumann was raised by her father after her parents divorced when she was four. At the age of eight, she performed in Leipzig and started a successful career, touring Europe as a pianist and composing music.

Robert Schumann abandoned his law studies to take music lessons with Clara's father, and eventually married her in September 1840. They proved themselves to be remarkable business partners, inspiring and supporting the other in their musical careers and raising eight children.

She died aged 76 on 26 March 1896, 40 years after her husband's death.