Beethovens Hände - Ölstudie von Josef Danhauser von 1827, Fotografie von Emil Koch, Bonn, um 1890

Josef Danhauser not only created Beethoven's death mask, but he also painted several studies at his deathbed - among them was an illustration of Beethoven's hands. It showed a cross shaft between his fingers. This probably complies with how Beethoven really was layed out. The city of Vienna archives possesses a "receipt of the costs in Convencions Müntze (the currency during the 19th century) of the famous composer Sir Ludwig von Beethoven's funeral", which gives information about some details of the ceremonial laid out. A big cross made of wax and "a lily in his hand" are also mentioned. Due to these explanations (and based on information on the traditions related to funerals in the early 19th century in Vienna) researchers today assume, that both, the cross and the lily, had been put into the deceased composer's hand.(S.B.)