Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) - Stich von Charles Picart, wohl nach einer eigenen Zeichnung

Ferdinand Ries, a pianist from Bonn knew Beethoven since he was a boy and belonged to the composer's circle of close friends. Between 1801 and 1805 he lived in Vienna like Beethoven. During this time he revived his relationship with Beethoven and took piano lessons. In 1805 Ries left Vienna and returned only once in 1808/09 for a short visit. In 1813 he moved to London where he stayed a good ten yeas. He returned to the Rhineland in 1824.

Shortly before, drawer and copper engraver Charles Picart from London had made a portrait of Ries that was published in the English music magazine "The Harmonicon". Ries gave one copy of the picture to his friend Franz Gerhard Wegeler (1765-1848). The copy, which is now displayed at the Beethoven-Haus, bears a hand-written dedication: "meinem Freunde Wegeler Ferd: Ries" (to my friend Wegeler Ferd: Ries).

In the 1830s Ferdinand Ries and Franz Wegeler wrote an important and very reliable collection of memories regarding their common friend Ludwig van Beethoven, which was published in 1838 under the following title: Biographische Notizen über L. van Beethoven" (Biographical notes about L. van Beethoven).(S.B.)