Ferdinand Johann Nepomuk Fürst Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1781-1812) - Fotografie einer Lithographie von Josef Kriehuber

Prince Kinsky (full name: Ferdinand Johann Nepomuk Joseph Fürst Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau) was an Austrian officer and colonel of the Ulanen in the Schwarzenberg regiment. Kinsky was very wealthy and loved music. When Ludwig van Beethoven received a call from Kassel in 1809, he, Prince Lobkowitz and Archduke Rudolph from Austria offered the composer a lifelong pension if he remained in Vienna. The pension consisted of an annual amount of 4,000 Florin of which Kinsky paid the majority (1,800 Florin). Thus, the three Austrian music lovers prevented Beethoven from leaving Vienna.

In 1812 Beethoven dedicated Kinsky his mass for four solo parts, choir and orchestra (C major, op. 86). He also dedicated various works to the prince's wife Baroness Carolina Maria Freiin von Kerpen (1782-1841) such as six songs with piano accompaniment (op. 75), three songs of poems by Goethe op. 83 as well as the song "An die Hoffnung" op. 94. When Prince Kinsky died at the age of 31 in November 1812 after falling from a horse, Beethoven had temporary difficulties in receiving his pension. Finally, Prague lawyer and composer Johann Nepomuk Kanka successfully achieved the continuation of the payment from the Prince's bequest.(S.B.)