The aristocratic women close to Beethoven were all remarkable in their own unique ways. Antonie Brentano, one of the suggested recipients of the mysterious Immortal Beloved letter, dedicated much of her time to philanthropy, setting up charities and working with the poor in Frankfurt. Antonie was also a significant cultural figure, promoting the arts in the city. During her time spent in Vienna, Antonie developed a loving friendship with Beethoven, characterized by tenderness and mutual admiration. She lived until she was 88 years old, outliving all but one member of her family, her daughter Josefa.
Antonie’s childhood
Antonie was born to Carolina Josefa von Hay and Johann Melchior Edler von Birkenstock in Vienna in 1780. Her father was a diplomat and educational reformer, and advisor to Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Joseph II. Antonie was sent to a convent at eight years of age, when she lost her mother to influenza. She had three brothers, two of whom died when they were just babies.
Married life
As was custom during the time, Antonie’s father chose her a husband, whom she married in 1798. Franz Brentano, a wealthy businessman, was fifteen years older than Antonie. She gave birth to five children in close succession, and her sixth and final child in 1813. Franz and Antonie’s relationship was respectful, but lacking in joy and passion. Franz was not unkind or indifferent; however, he was always preoccupied with his business. Antonie was also plagued by poor health over the years, no doubt not helped by a lacklustre married life in Frankfurt and the homesickness she felt for her hometown, Vienna.
The beginnings of a deep friendship with Beethoven
When Antonie’s father died in 1809, she returned to Vienna to care for him, staying after his death to sell his sizeable collection of art. She was soon joined by her family and they remained a total of three years in the city she loved and missed dearly. It is unclear whether the family became first acquainted with Beethoven during this time, or perhaps had met him at an earlier stage. Regardless, during those years, Antonie and her family and Beethoven enjoyed a close, supportive and loving friendship. Beethoven would play improvisations for Antonie when she was feeling unwell, and, at her request, he gave her the An die Geliebte (To the Beloved) script, and others too. Later, one version of the song included a part written for the guitar, which was Antonie’s instrument. Perhaps she had inspired him to do so. Through his music, Beethoven tenderly expressed his empathy towards his dear friend. Her husband assisted Beethoven with his finances and the children too developed a close relationship with the composer, often exchanging gifts.
Later, Beethoven dedicated the Diabelli Variations to Antonie and his piano sonata No.30 to her daughter Maximiliane, who was a talented musician.
Was Antonie Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved?
Beethoven’s famous love letter of 1812 is a passionate expression of despair and hope, of love and devotion for an unnamed woman, his Immortal Beloved, whose identity has inspired two centuries of curiosity, research and debate. In his 1977 biography of Beethoven, Maynard Solomon suggests that the letter was most likely addressed to Antonie. His reasoning is that she was in Prague when the letter mentions the pair met there. Also, Beethoven knew his Beloved to be in the spa town of Karlsbad at the time he was writing the letter. Solomun’s theory relies on the evidence that Antonie had stopped in Prague with her husband and one of her children on their way to Karlsbad. But could it be possible that Beethoven would have pursued a married woman, in particular, someone whose family he cared for and relied on for support and love? Surely his moral code would not have permitted him to contemplate causing the family such turmoil. Also, after he authored the fated letter, he joined the Brentano family in Karlsbad and spent some time in the same guesthouse together. It is more likely perhaps, that they received him with kindness and provided him with comfort, at a time when despair and loneliness were casting an ever-greater shadow over his life. There is a claim that Antonie’s child Karl, was Beethoven’s son, however, Solomon does not consider this to be very likely.
A special place in her heart
Antonie’s recollections later in life of those precious years in Vienna, show how much of a consolation Beethoven’s friendship was to her. They were never to meet again after she and her family returned to Frankfurt in 1813, however, they corresponded by post a number of times. A few years later, Antonie showed her support for the composer during the legal proceedings in his fight for full custody of his nephew, Karl. Antonie wrote in support of his claim, detailing his goodness, high moral character, and trust in his best of intentions for the child’s future.
A.K.
