How did Beethoven as a freelance artist earn his living without a permanent employment? And did you know that
Beethoven held stocks?
This Internet exhibition gives a brief insight into the cost of living during Beethoven's time as well as
the composer's source of income to understand his financial situation and the impact of the economic
conditions prevalent at this time.
Selected documents and objects from the extensive collection of the Beethoven-Haus, documents from the
Archives of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, contemporary means of payment, copper, silver and
gold coins as well as different bills from the Austrian National Bank illustrate the relationship between
Beethoven's earnings and his financial plight.
