The desire to build monuments in memory of outstanding people, events and achievements is as old as the European culture. During the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, the interest in honouring famous politicians, artists and scholars by commemorative monuments was so strong that this epoch can virtually be called "addicted to monuments and memorials". Whereas it used to be mainly statesmen and monarchs who were to be honoured by monuments in public places, it now became more and more frequent to dedicate memorials and monuments to poets, artists, musicians, scholars and scientists. Beethoven monument on the Münsterplatz in Bonn (1845) Bust in the garden of the Beethoven-House in Bonn (1905) A particular large number of quite different monuments were erected for Ludwig van Beethoven. Only a short time after his death, people felt the desire to honour the great composer in a special way. Until today, busts, entire sculptures and huge constructions are installed all over the world in his memory. The following pages give an overview of some of the most important Beethoven monuments and show the variety of forms, shapes and approaches developed by artists of the 19th and 20th century to honour Ludwig van Beethoven and his music.
