Johann Michael von Puchberg (September 21, 1741, Zwettl, Lower Austria - January 21, 1822, Vienna) was a textile merchant who lived in Vienna in the 18th and early 19th centuries. He is remembered as a friend of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who lent him considerable sums of money during a difficult period in the composer's life.
Around 1788, Mozart's financial situation had worsened; it was in general a bad time for musicians in Vienna, owing to the w...
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Johann Michael von Puchberg (September 21, 1741, Zwettl, Lower Austria - January 21, 1822, Vienna) was a textile merchant who lived in Vienna in the 18th and early 19th centuries. He is remembered as a friend of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who lent him considerable sums of money during a difficult period in the composer's life.
Around 1788, Mozart's financial situation had worsened; it was in general a bad time for musicians in Vienna, owing to the war with Turkey that began the previous year; Mozart biographers also often blame imprudent financial lifestyle decisions made by the Mozart family. Mozart wrote to Puchberg a series of "begging letters," of increasing desperate tone. Puchberg responded with a series of loans, ranging in size from 30 to 300 florins, and totaling about 1400 florins.
Andrew Steptoe (1984) has discussed the series of 21 letters Mozart wrote to Puchberg asking for loans. He notes that "Mozart's early requests stress the bond of mutual aid and comfort," giving the...
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