Archduke RudolfRudolf Johannes Joseph Rainier Cardinal von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke and Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia (1788-1831), was the greatest patron of Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827). Rudolf began taking lessons in piano and composition from Beethoven as a teenager, which was the beginning of a twenty-year relationship. In gratitude for his long-standing financial support and genuine friendship, Beethoven dedicated fourteen compositions to Rudolf, including his Fourth and Fifth (Emperor) Piano Concertos, the beloved Archduke Piano Trio and his great Missa Solemnis.
Beethoven, 1820