Beethoven and glasses

[Preston]

I read an account from a man who experienced the 1st performance of the Eroica. One thing I remember from the account (which explained Beethoven's appearance at the time) is that Beethoven was wearing bifocals. Though, I have not read too much about Beethoven wearing glasses? Did he wear them throughout his life? It is hard to just set them down, because then you cannot see as clear and crisp, or at all, depending on your vision.

[Peter]

He would have worn them just for reading and writing from around that time to the end of his life.
Image of his specs and ear trumpets:
http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Lieux/Vir...EtCornets_.jpg

[Michael]

According to Barry Cooper, Niclaus Zmeskall was a minor aristocrat who formed a lifelong friendship with Beethoven and he often helped the composer in practical matters such as obtaining good quills or wine.
Zmeskall played the cello and Beethoven the viola, so in 1796 or 1797, the composer wrote a two-movement work for these instruments (WoO 32) and gave it the facetious title of "Duet with Two Obliggato Eye-Glasses" as both men sometimes wore glasses.

Also, have a look at this famous (imaginative) drawing by Oswald Barrett:

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1280&bih=582

[Preston]

Thank you both for the information and images. As for the information, naturally it makes sense, even though I am somewhat surprised. Seeing as, I never knew what happened regarding Beethoven and his glasses, and kind of unconsciously assumed that he did not wear them. Perhaps because of the paintings and movies, and that I, while not having read much, have never really read about the glasses. Anyway, thanks.

Michael, surprisingly I don't think I've ever seen that drawing. I quite like it. It seems that there was a lot of thought put into Beethoven's appearance. It resembles his facial features more relative to the life mask? The glasses are very similar to the ones in the link Peter provided. Imo, it is just a good overall (because it is studied well) drawing! Thanks for that.

[Michael]

I forgot to mention that I saw Beethoven's actual eye-glasses in the Beethovenhaus in Bonn last year.

I've always liked that drawing by Oswald Barrett (or Batt) as he signed himself. He specialised in sketches of the great composers and many of them are in my 1970 copy of the Oxford Companion to Music. This colour drawing was used as the frontispiece, although the copy shown here is very small:

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1280&bih=582


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[Megan]

I forgot to mention that I saw Beethoven's actual eye-glasses in the Beethovenhaus in Bonn last year.

I've always liked that drawing by Oswald Barrett (or Batt) as he signed himself. He specialised in sketches of the great composers and many of them are in my 1970 copy of the Oxford Companion to Music. This colour drawing was used as the frontispiece, although the copy shown here is very small:

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1280&bih=582


.

I always wondered who drew this portrait of Beethoven. I have it on a CD cover there are two volumes, of Beethoven Explored.
Music Perfomed by Peter Sheppard Skaerved , and Aaron Shorr.
On the Metier label.






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[Preston]

http://www.beethoven-haus-bonn.de/si...00460&_seite=1

Michael, Megan, and anyone else - this is the most beautiful (because of it's truer nature - I like to imagine) painting that I have ever seen of Beethoven. I love this painting. If anyone has ever expressed such a thoughtful and true vision of Beethoven through a painting, I think it is this - even down to the title. Though, I had not seen this one, so there may be others.

It seems a good discussion would be about the precision of the image of Beethoven. In this painting you could change the detail, only slightly, and have the same look as most all of the other paintings, drawings, etc.

I am not saying I am right about the painting or about the general appearance of Beethoven - I don't know? Though that is one thing I do wonder?

[Michael]

I had no idea this portrait was in the Beethoven-Haus or anywhere else. I have only seen it, as I said, facing the title page of the Oxford Beethoven Companion 1970.
It is indeed very striking and could almost have been painted from life.

[Preston]

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=h...w=1280&bih=582

I had no idea this portrait was in the Beethoven-Haus or anywhere else.

I got the link from you! Those google images can get confusing, .

[Preston]

It is indeed very striking and could almost have been painted from life.

I think so too, though, I don't really know? Most of all the other portraits, etc. have a different look to them. I think it is a "cooler" look. So for me it is hard to know what his outward (I guess one would say) appearance looked like, though, I may be missing something? I really need to do some more studying and be more organized and rational about Beethoven.

[Megan]

I think so too, though, I don't really know? Most of all the other portraits, etc. have a different look to them. I think it is a "cooler" look. So for me it is hard to know what his outward (I guess one would say) appearance looked like, though, I may be missing something? I really need to do some more studying and be more organized and rational about Beethoven.

I agree this portrait could be a true likeness , infact it looks very real, and what comes across even more powerfully to me, is that he is not enjoying the fullness of health, as the later portraits show him.

[Michael]

I think the Beethoven-Haus may be selling this as a poster in their shop. Only authentic portraits are displayed in the actual house and this one, fascinating as it is, is imaginative.

I wouldn't mind getting it as a poster. For the last thirty years I have a huge romanticised poster of Ludwig staring down at me, his head in thundery clouds and a sketch-book and pencil at the ready. It has become increasingly delapidated over the years and at one stage my wife relegated it to the attic.
I rescued it from there and it's now in the utility room. (Sorry, Ludwig!)

[Preston]

I agree this portrait could be a true likeness , infact it looks very real, and what comes across even more powerfully to me, is that he is not enjoying the fullness of health, as the later portraits show him.

I agree Megan. You do raise an interesting subject I think, the later portraits. I wonder why he was painted in the later portraits looking as though he was in not just full, but excellent health - when he was anything but? Perhaps his health and appearance had changed to a degree where the artists felt almost insecure about painting the, true, great composer?

[Quijote]

I know what you all mean; we are desperate to know what Beethoven looked like. I think we know, however : the many portraits, the life masks and the death mask. The Klein mask I think gives us a very good idea. I don't find him (LvB) particularly ugly, contrary to many contemporary reports.

[Peter]

I know what you all mean; we are desperate to know what Beethoven looked like. I think we know, however : the many portraits, the life masks and the death mask. The Klein mask I think gives us a very good idea. I don't find him (LvB) particularly ugly, contrary to many contemporary reports.

I agree - I think he was certainly a striking presence!