Ludwig van Beethoven, Denkmal im Garten des Beethoven-Hauses in Bonn - Gipsmodell zur Plastik von Naoum Aronson aus dem Jahr 1905, Fotografie von Jacques Casper, Berlin, 1906

In the summer of 1905 sculptor Naoum Aronson from Latvia created a monumental Beethoven bust, considered not only one of his most successful but also most excellent works.

The bust's intensive effect is enhanced by Beethoven's tilted head and the clouding of his eyes. The composer does not face the beholder but his gaze is turned inwards, a clear distinction to other depictions typical of the 19th century. Earlier, artists tried to capture Beethoven's struggle for the perfection of his music by depicting him with his eyes openly turned towards the sky as a token of spiritual inspiration.

Aronson, however, was influenced and inspired by the introverted characters of his teacher Auguste Rodin. He depicted Beethoven as an artist full of passionate ideas but living in his own world.(S.B.)