Patrons

During the early 1800s his income came from publishing his works, from performances of them, and from his patrons, for whom he gave private performances and copies of works they commissioned for an exclusive period prior to their publication. Some of his early patrons, including Prince Lobkowitz and Prince Lichnowsky, gave him annual stipends in addition to commissioning works and purchasing published works. Perhaps his most important aristocratic patron was Archduke Rudolf of Austria, Archbishop of Olomouc and Cardinal-Priest, and the youngest son of Emperor Leopold II, who is 1803 or 1804 began to study piano and composition with him. They became friends, and their meetings continued until 1824. Beethoven was to dedicate 14 compositions to Rudolph, including the Archduke Trio Op. 97 (1811) and Missa Solemnis Op. 123 (1823).