Ludwig van Beethoven, Denkmal in Bonn, Beethoven-Figur - Stich von Theodor Langer nach der Plastik von Ernst Julius Hähnel aus dem Jahr 1845, um 1845

As early as 1832, a few years after Beethoven's death, efforts were made in Bonn to erect a memorial to the composer. When the project almost came to a standstill at the end of the 1830s due to organizational and financial difficulties, it is said that Franz Liszt became aware of the problems through reports in newspaper articles. Due to his personal commitment to Beethoven's music he took up the initiative and provided the missing sum of money. Thanks to his generous help the necessary sum was available in August 1840 and a competition was held for the design of the memorial. Seven German sculptors took part, including Ernst Julius Hähnel (1811-1891) from Dresden.His design was finally chosen by the committee, and on 12 August 1845 the bronze statue, which still stands on Münsterplatz, was unveiled.(S.B.)