Descriptions of Beethoven's Personality

"If we see him lumbering clumsily, like a sea-lion, on the dry land of everyday experience, as soon as he can plunge into music, which was his natural element, he moves with a power and certainty of aim that revealed, from the very start of his career, the natural master."[L.Dec pg123]

"As soon as his face became animated in friendship, it took on all the charm of childlike innocence; when he smiled, one believed not only in him, but in mankind; so heartfelt and sincere was he in words, in movement and in looks."

Ries describes B's behavior toward friends [Wegeler/Ries p83]: "Any stranger could freely slander his most loyal friends, since he believed everything all too quickly and unconditionally. He would then neither reproach the victim nor demand an explanation but would immediately show the greatest insolence and contempt in his behavior toward him. Since he was extremely passionate in everything he did, he also looked for the most vulnerable side of the supposed enemy to show his anger. Therefore one frequently did not know how one stood with him until the matter was cleared up, usually by accident. Then, however, he always tried to compensate for the injustice he had done as quickly and effectively as possible."

Gerhard von Breuning described Beethoven as having these traits: "great nobility and tenderness with an easily excited temperament, mistrust, withdrawal from the world around him, together with a penchant for sarcastic wit." Also, "...his ready outbreaks of anger were soon made good in the most amiable way, by his quick admission even to the point of exaggeration, of any mistakes he might have committed."

He was fiercely independent although this conflicted with his early Viennese need of patron support. Per Wegeler p36 referring to Lichnowsky who provided early Viennese lodging: "The prince, who had a very loud metallic voice, one day instructed his footman that if both he and Beethoven should ring at the same time, Beethoven should be served first. When Beethoven overheard this, he hired a servant of his own that very same day."

On hot summer days while walking in remote areas of the forest (especially between Baden and Gaden) he would remove most of his clothes and tie them to a stick which he slung over his shoulder while walking.

Also from Gerhard von Bruenings description: In his later years when out walking in the streets of Vienna, he was usually buried in throught and grumbled to himself; he would often gesticulate with his arms when walking alone. He wore a customary felt hat and when he would come into the house after a rain, he would hsake it a bit without concern for the furnishings of the room, and clap the hat down on the top of the coat stand causing the top of the hat to no longer be flat but arch upwards. He wore his hat pushed back from hsi face leaving his forehead free, while his disorderly hair, described by one as "not curled, not stiff, but a mixture of everything" [p71] streamed out on either side. His overcoat pockets were worn from the think music notebook he carried always. He would walk with his body tilted forward but not bent over.

G. v. Breuning relates that of the images available, the best include the 1814 medallion portrait by Letronne, except for the tendency to give some of the features a mulatto-like expression, the portraits fo Jager, Chimon and Schiman, and especially per Stephan's statements to Gerhard, the miniature medallion portrait done in 1803 by Hornemann (considered best of all).

He would often discuss subjects interesting to him with great passion: G. v. Breuning described a scene from his boyhood: "...as he walked up and down the room in one of these discussions with my father, he would spit on the mirror, instead of out the window, without noticing the difference.

Beethoven was often absent minded: Once, he lost the entire receipts of the benefit performance of the Battle of Vittora; someone came after him and returned it to him - he accepted the package laconically as honesty was a matter or course for him. On another occasion, he went to the "Schwan" Inn for his midday meal. It took a while for the waiter to arrive and he began composing in the meantime. The waiter came by but left him alone as he was deep in thought. After he was finished with his composing session, he asked for the bill although he had not eaten.

Ignaz von Segfried, a friend for 30 years, describes the Beethoven he knew: "Justice, personal decency, the moral code, a devout mind, and religious purity meant more to him than all else; these virtues were enthroned in him and he demanded that others cultivate them. He took pleasure in helping others out of pure love for his neighbors, only too often making considerable sacrifices greatly to his own disadvantage. Anyone who turned to him in free and full confidence always could count upon certain, actual aid. Only a few people were capable of estimating his lofty human values to their full extent. Why was this? Because the majority were rebuffed by the rough outward shell and never even guessed at its noble inner kernal. Yet is not the most costly well-nigh priceless diamond often concealed in a pallad, dull, colorless and unpolished wrapper? [Beethoven: A Man of His Word p 168 quoting Scherman and Biancolli: Beethoven Companion, Garden City, NY, Doubleday, 1972 p92]