Beethoven's brothers and family likenesses

[AeolianHarp]

I've often wondered what Caspar Carl looked like- there are no portraits of him. I wonder if one was done and it's lost. I've never read any reference made to any portraits- have any of you? Of course, there is one of Johann, and he looks nothing like Ludwig at all! I wonder if Caspar had some resemblance to Ludwig? Karl ( the son) bore no resemblance to Ludwig either. I don't think Ludwig looked much like any of his parents either by looking at their portraits ( though they are not very good ones). I can't see much likeness between Ludwig's grandfather and himself either.

[AeolianHarp]

I just found this:

There is no contemporary image of Carl van Beethoven. The only description of him I can find is by Carl Czerny, Beethoven's pupil; its terseness and brevity speak volumes: 'Carl: small of stature, red-haired, ugly.'

Read more at http://www.classicfm.com/composers/b...XqRy3y5Llv3.99

[Peter]

There is also doubt about the authenticity of the portraits of Beethoven's parents. The Grandfather portrait though is genuine.

[Michael]

There is a photograph in existence of Beethoven's nephew:

http://194.8.210.170/dbh-archiv/doku...=66.249.78.195

[Zevy]

There is a photograph in existence of Beethoven's nephew:

http://194.8.210.170/dbh-archiv/doku...=66.249.78.195

This is from an article in Classic FM: "The only contemporary image of Karl van Beethoven - an unsigned miniature portrait - shows him in military uniform, his hair combed forward to hide the gunshot wound."
I guess they didn't know about this photo.

[Michael]

This is from an article in Classic FM: "The only contemporary image of Karl van Beethoven - an unsigned miniature portrait - shows him in military uniform, his hair combed forward to hide the gunshot wound."
I guess they didn't know about this photo.

This might be the portrait referred to:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Beethoven.PNG

The photograph shown further above was taken in middle age.

Purely as a matter of interest, here is a photo of Anton Swindler (sorry, I meant Schindler):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nSchindler.jpg

[AeolianHarp]

There is also doubt about the authenticity of the portraits of Beethoven's parents. The Grandfather portrait though is genuine.

I think I read that the artist of Beethoven's parents' portraits are unknown.

Yes, I know Beethoven's grandfather's portrait is genuine. He looked a pleasant fellow.

[AeolianHarp]

I've seen the ones of Karl many times. I wonder if he resembled his father or mother?

[Michael]

Yes, I know Beethoven's grandfather's portrait is genuine. He looked a pleasant fellow.

Can't say the same about Beethoven's dad!



http://www.oocities.org/vienna/choir...en/parents.gif

However, we owe him a lot.