[Inside Front Cover]

BEETHOVEN [presumably in his apartment on the Josephstädter Glacis; probably Monday, May 1, or Tuesday, May 2]: Month of May, 1820. [//]

[Blatt 1r]

NEPHEW KARL [probably at Blöchlinger's Institute; probably Monday, May 1, or Tuesday, May 2]: I wanted to come to see you on Thursday [April 27], but because I had much to do then for the examination, which is on [Friday,] May 5, I was not able to come. //

BERNARD [probably in a restaurant in the City; probably midday dinner, ca. 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2]: His name is Josch. There is still a third brother, whom these two disavow, and who is a halbes Genie [dimwit]. The arrangement will probably be by this one. [//] [Blatt 1v]

The lawyer has 13 living children. The eldest is now a doctor and the youngest is just learning to walk. //

I saw your portrait [by Stieler] at the art exhibition—but I am not satisfied with it. // He should have captured you more faithfully [Blatt 2r] and added nothing to it. [//] Lawrence painted Wellington simply in an overcoat without any external trappings, and everyone recognizes him at once. [//] Otherwise, it is a very good likeness. [//]

On a Thursday afternoon; however, there are many naked female figures in it he exhibition]. [//]

BEETHOVEN: 125 fl. 30 kr.

[Blatt 2v]

BERNARD [continuing]: His portraits are very elegant, but he cannot provide them with any correct inner content. [//] Stieler's portraits are usually flat, although neatly done. [//] Perhaps he was a housepainter. [//] [Blatt 3r]

I have never yet seen such true portraits as those by the English painter Lawrence.

[//] In comparison with Stieler, Lawrence used smearing strokes, but his portraits were all alive and faithful. [//] [Blatt 3v] Oil. [//]

He [Karl] will soon recite [Schiller’s] Der Gang nach dem Eisenhammer. [//] We shall attend. [//] Goethe is more of an egotist. //

[attempting to write in local (or even Augsburger) pronunciation:] Warm greetings from Herr von Stan [Stein], and when will you move out [Blatt 4r] to Mödling[?] [//]

[back to standard German:]

Frau von Baumgarten also desires to send her sons to Blöchlinger’s. [//] She believes that she is not able to give enough attention to their education, especially as they grow more. [//] [Blatt 4v]