Bildnis eines unbekannten Herrn, fälschlich als Johann Baptist Freiherr von Pasqualati (1777-1830) bezeichnet - Fotografie eines anonymen Pastellbildes aus der ersten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts

Johann Baptist von Pasqualati was a wealthy wholesale merchant and music lover who stood in close contact to Ludwig van Beethoven. Between 1804 and 1815 Beethoven repeatedly stayed in Pasqualati's noble mansion close to Vienna's Mölkerbastei which still exists and now accomodates a Beethoven memorial.

The composer appreciated Pasqualati as a clever businessman and lenient and genial house owner. The Baron always kept the flat in his mansion available in case Beethoven needed to move in after cancelling his lease contract - a quite frequent situation. When difficulties arose with the pension that Beethoven received from Princes Kinsky and Lobkowitz, Pasqualati stood up for the composer.

In 1814, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the death of Pasqualati's wife Eleonore, Beethoven composed the "Elegischer Gesang" (Elegiac song) "Sanft wie du lebtest" for 4 voices and string quartet, op. 118. One year later, the Baron received the canon "Glück zum neuen Jahr" WoO 165 as a new year's gift. Even though Beethoven moved out of Pasqualati's place for good in 1815 and Pasqualati later lived temporarily in Milan, the contact between both men continued until Beethoven's death. In the last years of his life, the Baron sent Beethoven several presents which Beethoven accepted gladly.(S.B.)