Latest news with #BeethovenHouse
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pictured: the true face of Beethoven
The true face of Ludwig van Beethoven has been revealed – almost 200 years after his death. Scientists created the first-ever 3D reconstruction of the treasured composer's head by analysing his skull, which may have confirmed long-running depictions of him as an unsmiling man with an unkempt appearance. According to the new model, he had an icy stare, with dark green eyes and wavy, grey, thinning hair. It suggests Beethoven, who died aged 56 in Vienna after a prolonged illness in 1827, had a surly expression with deep frown lines, both repeatedly depicted in portraits of the musician. 'I found the face somewhat intimidating,' said Cicero Moraes, a Brazilian 3D designer and the lead author of the study. Mr Moraes used historical photographs of Beethoven's skull – provided by the Beethoven House in Bonn, Germany – after it was exhumed in 1863. Along with the images, he used measurement data collected in 1888. Mr Moraes told The Telegraph: 'This is the first facial approximation made from his skull. I used the same approach we use in police cases to identify victims. 'It is also the first to do a meta-analysis addressing his height of 162-166cm (5ft 3-4in).' He added: 'The facial approximation was guided solely by the skull. First, I created 2D outlines – frontal and lateral – from the skull photographs. Then I modelled the skull in 3D using a virtual donor's tomography, adjusted to match the photos' proportions. 'I then added soft tissue thickness markers based on data from living Europeans, projected the nose, and traced the facial profile. I interpolated all these projections to form the basic face.' Beyond the face, Mr Moraes added subjective features such as clothes and hair, using a famous portrait of Beethoven, painted by Joseph Karl Stieler in 1820, as his guide. The finer details of the 3D model were enhanced using AI. 'This study offers a unique perspective on Beethoven's complexity, highlighting his resilience, creativity, and a legacy that continues to inspire generations,' wrote Mr Moraes. In March, the 3D designer and his team also revealed a facial reconstruction of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 230 years after his death, helping to unravel the mystery of what the Austrian composer looked like. Dozens of portraits of Mozart had each depicted him differently, but the new model shows him with a rounded face, thick blond hair and a receding hairline. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Pictured: the true face of Beethoven
The true face of Ludwig van Beethoven has been revealed – almost 200 years after his death. Scientists created the first-ever 3D reconstruction of the treasured composer's head by analysing his skull, which may have confirmed long-running depictions of him as an unsmiling man with an unkempt appearance. According to the new model, he had an icy stare, with dark green eyes and a wavy, grey, thinning hair. It suggests Beethoven, who died aged 56 in Vienna after a prolonged illness in 1827, had a surly expression with deep frown lines – both repeatedly depicted in portraits of the musician. 'I found the face somewhat intimidating,' said Cicero Moraes, a Brazilian 3D designer and the lead author of the study. Mr Moraes used historical photographs of Beethoven's skull – provided by the Beethoven House in Bonn, Germany – after it was exhumed in 1863. Along with the images, he used measurement data collected in 1888. Mr Moraes told The Telegraph: 'This is the first facial approximation made from his skull. I used the same approach we use in police cases to identify victims. 'It is also the first to do a meta-analysis addressing his height of 162-166cm (5ft 3-4in)).' He added: 'The facial approximation was guided solely by the skull. First I created 2D outlines – frontal and lateral – from the skull photographs. Then I modelled the skull in 3D using a virtual donor's tomography, adjusted to match the photos' proportions. 'I then added soft tissue thickness markers based on data from living Europeans, projected the nose, and traced the facial profile. I interpolated all these projections to form the basic face.' Beyond the face, Mr Moraes added subjective features such as clothes and hair, using a famous portrait of Beethoven, painted by Joseph Karl Stieler in 1820, as his guide. The finer details of the 3D model were enhanced using AI. 'This study offers a unique perspective on Beethoven's complexity, highlighting his resilience, creativity, and a legacy that continues to inspire generations,' wrote Mr Moraes. In March, the 3D designer and his team also revealed a facial reconstruction of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 230 years after his death, helping to unravel the mystery of what the Austrian composer looked like. Dozens of portraits of Mozart had each depicted him differently, but the new model shows him with a rounded face, thick blond hair and a receding hairline.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Beethoven's ‘intimidating' face revealed for the first time in 200 years
Ludwig van Beethoven's face has been revealed in stunning detail almost 200 years after his death. The legendary German composer, famed for masterpieces like the 'Fifth Symphony' and 'Moonlight Sonata', has had his face brought back to life in jaw-dropping detail and the results are striking. Thanks to cutting-edge 3D and a historic skull scan, Beethoven's moody mug has been recreated and it's as fiery as his reputation suggests. Cicero Moraes, the Brazilian graphics expert behind the project, said: "I found the face somewhat intimidating." He used rare photographs of Beethoven's skull taken in 1863 and measurement data from 1888, both provided by the Beethoven House in Bonn, Germany. Despite his musical genius, Beethoven wasn't exactly known for his charm. British composer Mark Wigglesworth once summed him up as: "Irritable, untidy, clumsy, rude, and misanthropic." Moraes said: "The facial approximation was guided solely by the skull. First I created 2D outlines – frontal and lateral – from the skull photographs. Then I modelled the skull in 3D using a virtual donor's tomography, adjusted to match the photos' proportions. I then added soft tissue thickness markers based on data from living Europeans, projected the nose, and traced the facial profile. I interpolated all these projections to form the basic face." He later added clothes and hair based on a famous 1820 portrait, before using AI to polish the final image. The result was "highly compatible" with a life mask made of Beethoven's face during his lifetime. Moraes explained: "I analysed his revolutionary creativity, resilience in composing despite deafness, intense focus, problem-solving ability, and tireless productivity, despite a challenging personality. Reading about his life in detail was moving, as I noticed behavioural similarities in myself. I was fortunate to have psychological support that helped me manage my own irritability. Beethoven, however, faced a chaotic world with his own resources, finding refuge in his work, which seemed to bring him existential fulfilment."
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beethoven's true face is revealed for the first time in 200 YEARS - and it's every bit as 'intimidating' as his reputation suggests
The true face of Beethoven has been revealed almost 200 years after his death – and it's every bit as 'intimidating' as his reputation suggests. Despite his status as one of history's great composers, Beethoven is also remembered for his surly disposition and unkempt appearance. 'He was indeed irritable, untidy, clumsy, rude, and misanthropic,' wrote British composer Mark Wigglesworth in a blog post. It's a reputation often reflected in his portraits, which invariably depict him as an unsmiling man with an icy gaze. Now a scientific reconstruction of his face has revealed what he actually looked like – and it seems he really did look that grumpy. Cicero Moraes, lead author of the new study, has completed the first ever reconstruction of the composer's appearance based on his skull. 'I found the face somewhat intimidating,' he admitted. To complete the work, Mr Moraes used historical photographs of the musician's skull provided by the Beethoven House in Bonn, Germany. Along with the images, which were taken by Johann Batta Rottmayer in 1863, he used measurement data collected in 1888. He said: 'The facial approximation was guided solely by the skull. 'First I created 2D outlines – frontal and lateral – from the skull photographs. 'Then I modelled the skull in 3D using a virtual donor's tomography, adjusted to match the photos' proportions. 'I then added soft tissue thickness markers based on data from living Europeans, projected the nose, and traced the facial profile. 'I interpolated all these projections to form the basic face.' With the objective face complete, Mr Moraes added subjective features like clothes and hair, using as his guide a famous portrait of Beethoven painted in 1820 by Joseph Karl Stieler. Finally, some of the finer details were enhanced with an AI tool. The skull itself is not in perfect condition, due to incisions made after Beethoven's death in 1827, and the reconstruction is based on only two perspectives – frontal and lateral. But Mr Moraes said it was also 'highly compatible' with a cast made of the composer's stony visage during his lifetime. In his blog post, Mr Wigglesworth argued that, despite his reputation, Beethoven could be 'witty, caring, mischievous, generous, and kind'. It was, he suggested, the loss of his hearing that made him the 'impatient, intolerant, irascible man that, against his better nature, he became infamous for'. Those who knew him might have agreed. One contemporary stated: 'As he grew older and deafness overtook him, the negative aspects of Beethoven's personality came to the fore.' Mr Moraes, who probes the mystery of Beethoven's genius in his new study, believes the composer's musicality and 'challenging personality' go hand in hand. He said: 'I academically explored his genius, revealing what made him an icon of Western music. 'I analysed his revolutionary creativity, resilience in composing despite deafness, intense focus, problem-solving ability, and tireless productivity, despite a challenging personality. 'Reading about his life in detail was moving, as I noticed behavioural similarities in myself. 'I was fortunate to have psychological support that helped me manage my own irritability. 'Beethoven, however, faced a chaotic world with his own resources, finding refuge in his work, which seemed to bring him existential fulfilment.' Mr Moraes published his study in the journal OrtogOnLineMag.
