Anton Schindler, Brief an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Koblenz, Wien, 6. Juli 1827, Autograph

Schindler introduces himself as a friend of Beethoven and Stephan von Breuning. On behalf of Stephan von Breuning's widow he informs Wegeler of the sad circumstances the family has been living in since von Breuning died. Money is short and many friends have turned away. Schindler explains the project of a Beethoven biography that the composer himself initiated. For this purpose Beethoven had given Breuning and Schindler a number of documents before his death. Breuning intended to contact Wegeler concerning the report on Beethoven's adolescence, write the part until 1814 himself and have Schindler take care of Beethoven's last years. An expert in music literature (preferably Rochlitz from Leipzig) should then compile a complete biography based on the individual reports. After Breuning's unexpected death in early June, Schindler still wants to proceed with the project and asks Wegeler to write about Beethoven's adolescence. Instead of the middle part to be written by Breuning, he plans to summarise the memories of other Beethoven contemporaries. (After the publication of Aloys Schlosser's biography and the call from Jakob Hotschevars Schindler changes his opinion, see W 40 and W 168.) In the postscript he wonders if Wegeler has already received Beethoven's portrait with the hand-written dedication (see W 25). He believes that Ferdinand Schimon's oil painting, that he himself owns, is the best portrait of Beethoven. (FG)