Elfenbeinminiatur mit dem Bildnis eines unbekannten Herrn in der Uniform der Ritter des Deutschen Ordens, um 1775-1790

The man shown here, whose identity is not clear, is a knight of the German Order, probably a provincial commander. The miniature once belonged to the Wegeler family. Originally, it was probably owned by the Von Breuning family from Bonn which had close bonds to the Order over many generations. Members of this family held high offices within the Order such as the office of chancellor for four times. Beethoven's childhood friend Stephan von Breuning (1777-1827) served in the Order's governing body three times in Bad Mergentheim and Vienna between 1796 and 1803.

In the second half of the 18th century Beethoven's native town Bonn was a lively centre of the German Order. Elector Maximilian Franz (1756-1801) who lived in Bonn held the office of grand master. For the same reason Beethoven's former patron, Count Waldstein (1762-1823) came to Bonn where he became a "real privy councillor" and member of the "Staatskonferenz", the Order's council.(S.B.)