Répertoire International d'Iconographie Musicale

Designs for illustrations to Beethoven's works

Burney, Edward Francis (1760-1848)

Item type:

drawing

Height:

20.3 cm (8 in.)

Width:

23.2 cm (9 1/8 in.)

Measurements for B1979.12.930: 18.1 × 23.5 cm; (7 1/8 × 9 1/4 inches)

Technique / Medium:

pen and gray ink, gray wash, and graphite on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper

Item location

Yale Center for British Art
Gift of Abel Cary Thomas, Yale BA 1905, transfer from the Yale University Library and the Yale University Art Gallery[Museum inv. no.: B1979.12.931 and B1979.12.930]

Description

Two very similar drawings with images related to works by Beethoven: figures of muses, cherubs, a soldier, a cow, a sheep, trees, a singing bird, an eagle with lightning bolt, weapons, musical instruments, manuscript scrolls, and titles of works by Beethoven. An area in the center of the page is blank, as if planned for a specific title or collection name to be added later. The sketch version (B1979.12.930) is nearly identical in concept, but is less distinct; it lacks the eagle symbol at the top and some titles seen in the more finished version.