Ferdinand Philip Lobkowicz (1724-1784) was the sixth Prince Lobkowicz. He was born in Prague as the third son of the fourth Prince Lobkowicz, Philip Hyacinth Lobkowicz, and Anna Maria von Altham. Ferdinand had two older half brothers, but one died before Philip Hyacinth and did not accede to be Prince, while the other, Wenzel Ferdinand, was made the fifth Prince Lobkowicz at his father's death in 1734. Wenzel died five years later at the age of 16 without an heir, so Ferdinand Philip was crowned the sixth Prince in 1739.
He was acquainted with Giacomo Casanova and mentioned by Casanova in his Histoire de Ma Vie. Casanova stated that he and Lobkowicz were together at the court of the young Paul I of Russia in the autumn of 1765.
Casanova wrote of him:
This prince was popular with everyone. The gay and affable manner of Prince Lobkowitz made him the life and soul of all the parties at which he was present. He was a constant courtier of the Countess Braun, the reigning beauty, and everyone believed his love had been crowned with success, though no one could assert as much positively.
Joseph Franz Maximilian Lobkowicz (August 8, 1772-December 16, 1816) was the seventh Prince Lobkowicz and a patron of the arts. In particular, Beethoven dedicated several works to Lobkowicz, including the 3rd, 5th, and 6th symphonies and the Opus 18 string quartets.[2]
He was created the first Duke of Raudnitz by Emperor Joseph II[3].
Patron of the Arts
editDespite the considerable sum of money he received from Lobkowicz, Beethoven had a low opinion of his patron. He called him "Prince Fizlypulzy".[4] In 1805, At a rehearsal of Beethoven's opera Leonore, one of the three bassoonists was absent, causing Beethoven consternation. Lobkowitz joked that two were enough anyway, and that the third would hardly make a difference. Beethoven was incensed, and on his way out of the palace, shouted "Lobkowiczian ass!" at the prince.[5]
He was an obsessive collector of art, books, and musical instruments. He acquired a 1617 A&H Amati violin that is today owned by the Stradivari Society and on loan to Daniel Roehn. Ostensibly sold to Rembert Wurlitzer by Maximilian Lobkowicz in 1953, ownership of the violin is today disputed by members of the Lobkowicz family.[6]
Lobkowitz was also a performer. He played violin and cello and sang, taking the bass part in Handel's Alexander's Feast in Vienna in December 1812.
Such was the extravagance of his patronage that his finances were taken over by an administrator in 1813 to prevent the loss of his family's entire fortune. He died three years later.
References
edit- ^ http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/casanova/c33m/chapter118.html
- ^ http://www.lobkowicz.org/php/group.php?id=1
- ^ http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Raudnitz
- ^ http://phonoarchive.org/grove/Entries/S16832.htm
- ^ Thayer, Alexander Wheelock. The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven. New York: The Beethoven Association. 1921. p. 51.
- ^ http://www.fritz-reuter.com/articles/chicagotribune/historic_violin_in_tug.htm