Beethoven bei garstigem Wetter, 1820-1825 - Fotografie einer Autotypie nach einem Aquarell von Johann Nepomuk Hoechle

The article in the daily paper "Stuttgarter Morgenblatt" on 11/5/1823 written by Johann Sporschil tells us, that Beethoven used to go out for a walk no matter what the weather was like. Sporschil, who apparentely was very well informed about Beethoven's habits, wrote: "He loves nature. It is not easy for him to sit inside the whole day, when the weather in the winter is terrible, but when he is in the countryside during the summer, he usually went out to the blossoming garden of God, even before sunrise".

Various fine artists of the 19th century had recorded this habit of the composer. A water color pen drawing by Johann Nepomuk Höchle shows "Beethoven in terrible weather", wrapped in a long, thick coat, with the collar pointed up. The bavaroy which was strikingly long, the heavily twisted top hat, and the wide pants which apparently were pushed up the legs, completely comply with the descriptions of contemporaries about Beethoven's way of dressing when going for a walk.

Considering the whole appearance of the little drawing, it must have created between 1820 and 1825. The original is lost today, but some reproductions - like the one that is shown here - which have been created in the late 19th and the early 20th century do still exist.(S.B.)