Count Moritz von Fries
Moritz Christian Johann Reichsgraf von Fries | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Vienna, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | December 26, 1826 (aged 49) |
| Occupation(s) | Aristocrat, financier, patron of the arts |
| Known for | Patronage of Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert |
Moritz Christian Johann Reichsgraf von Fries (6 May 1777 – 26 December 1826) was an Austrian aristocrat, financier, and supporter of the arts.
Early life
He was born in Vienna as the youngest child of Count Johann von Fries (1719–1785), who amassed considerable wealth through prosperous financial and industrial enterprises, ranking among the richest individuals in the Holy Roman Empire. His mother was Anna d’Escherny (1737–1807). The family’s residence was Palais Fries (currently known as Palais Pallavicini) located in Vienna. Moritz had three siblings: Count Joseph Johann von Fries (1755–1788), Countess Ursula Viktoria von Schönfeld (1767–1805), and Countess Anna Philippina von Haugwitz (1769–1842).
Personal life
In 1800, von Fries wed Princess Maria Theresia zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst (1779–1819), daughter of Prince Charles Albert I of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst. At that time, he held an 80% stake in the family banking enterprise, which was valued at approximately 2.5 million guilders. This period represented the height of his economic prosperity; nevertheless, the inflation caused by the Napoleonic Wars combined with his extravagant expenditures led to a significant decline in his wealth. By 1826, von Fries faced insolvency and moved to Paris accompanied by his second spouse, Fanny Münzenberg (1795–1869), passing away shortly thereafter. His offspring did not receive any inheritance.
A passionate enthusiast of music and art, von Fries significantly enlarged an art collection originally inherited from his brother Johann, amassing over 300 pieces by renowned artists such as Raphael, van Dyck, and Rembrandt. His personal library contained more than 2,000 books. These valuable possessions were liquidated to fulfill debts following his financial collapse.
Legacy
Von Fries is predominantly recognized for his contributions to Vienna’s musical culture. As a participant in the Gesellschaft der Associierten Cavaliere—a distinguished society of noblemen dedicated to music—he organized private performances that supported composers including Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert. Notably, Haydn’s oratorio The Creation had its debut at Palais Fries in April 1800; additionally, Haydn dedicated his final string quintet to von Fries.
During one notable event, Beethoven famously outperformed Daniel Steibelt in a musical contest; in appreciation for von Fries’s patronage, Beethoven dedicated his piano and violin sonatas Op. 23 and Op. 24 to him. However, von Fries unintentionally jeopardized the publication of these compositions by providing manuscripts prematurely to the publisher Artaria, leading to an unauthorized edition. Despite this setback, Beethoven continued his association with von Fries, dedicating both his Op. 29 quintet and Seventh Symphony to him.