Ludwig van Beethoven, Quittung für Artaria & Comp., Wien, 28. Januar 1821, Autograph

Beethoven sends a receipt for the 150 florins C.M. He makes a commitment to repay this sum "very soon", as well as to send Artaria a composition in return.

At the beginning of the 1820s Beethoven was in great financial difficulties and borrowed money from several different sources. He did not repay Artaria the 150 florins "very soon", nor did he send him a composition in return. In August 1822 Beethoven was still putting off the publisher and in the same letter offered him the Missa solemnis for 1,000 florins: "I will also make a suggestion regarding the 150 florins C.M. which I owe you, but I cannot pay them back now as I really desperately need the 1,000 florins" (BGA 1489, HCB Br 9). Artaria's loan was finally repaid in 1828 out of Beethoven's estate.