BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Thursday, August 31, 1826 (approximately)

Possibly late yesterday or this morning, Beethoven is visited by portrait painter Willibrord Joseph Mähler (1778-1860). He writes his home address in Beethoven’s conversation book, perhaps attempting to get a sitting from Beethoven for another portrait. [Mähler had at least twice painted Beethoven, in 1804 and 1815, and he also …