Ludwig von Beethoven

Fittingly, the statue of Beethoven, one of the most famous composers in history, was placed on the Mall by the German-American Choir Society that often performed on the concert ground. The sculpture of the composer, which also includes the personification of the Genius of Music, stands now on the site of the original bandstand. The sculpture originally stood on the site of the present Bandshell, which was erected in 1923. A nearly identical bust stands in Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

In 1992, the Conservancy’s conservation team repatinated the Beethhoven sculpture, sealing it with protective coating to safeguard it from the season’s elements.