Die Enthüllung des Beethoven-Denkmals auf dem Bonner Münsterplatz am 12. August 1845 - Nicht bezeichnete Illustration, vermutlich nach einer Vorlage von Georg Osterwald aus der Illustrirten Zeitung, Leipzig, 1845

On 23 July 1845 the various parts for the Beethoven memorial reached Bonn. About two weeks later the new monument was unveiled on Münsterplatz. A complicated process that had taken more than 13 years to complete was thus finally brought to an end. The choice of location for the monument had posed a particular problem. Bonn had been under Prussian rule since 1815, which meant that the erection of a monument in a public square had to approved by the Prussian King, Friedrich Wilhelm III. He had, however, rejected any suggestions to honour important contributors to the arts and sciences in public places, with one single exception (the monument to Luther in Wittenberg). Public places were to be reserved for monuments to rulers. The attempts made by those in Bonn failed because of the King"s ban. Following the death of the monarch the problem was solved, as his son and successor Friedrich Wilhelm IV not only gave his approval in 1840, but also attended the unveiling ceremony shown here. (S.B.)