Beethoven auf dem Totenbett - Lithographie von Josef Danhauser nach eigener Zeichnung vom 29. März 1827, Wien, 1827

In the afternoon of March 26, in 1827 Ludwig van Beethoven died in his apartment at the "Schwarzspanierhaus" ("House of the Black-robed Spaniards") in Vienna after a long struggle with disease. The young Viennese artist Josef Danhauser was allowed to create Beethoven"s death mask. On this occasion he also made a drawing of the deceased Beethoven and soon thereafter, he produced a lithograph based on this drawing.

Danhauser"s depiction can be understood as some sort of visual memento - intended for those who paid their last respects to the deceased composer in his apartment on March 28, 1827. Since the face of the dead Beethoven was covered by a cloth during the laying out, Danhauser"s illustration actually shows exactly what the visitors were not able to see. Danhauser must have intended to give such an impression, since he drew a folded back cover with fringes below Beethoven"s head. This conveys an impression as if the blanket had been removed from Beethoven"s face for a short time only.

Danhauser"s original drawing is lost today. Also, just a few copies of the lithograph still exist, since he had never traded in it. In fact, the artist rather made just a few copies, intended for Beethoven"s closest friends and admirers. (S.B.)