Underneath the beautiful angel with trumpet, laurel wreaths, and two cherubs, the title page reads "Grand Sonata pathétique for the Harpsichord or Piano-Forte." (Even though the work is advertised for the harpsichord, Beethoven's accents and dynamic markings cannot be performed on that instrument.)

The sonata was dedicated to one of Beethoven's most important patrons, Prince Karl (here in the French version of his name, Charles) Lichnowsky, a friend of Mozart and a competent fortepianist. The Prince gave Beethoven a set of four string instruments (now at the Beethoven-Haus), lodging in his palace in Vienna, and an annual stipend of 600 florins from 1800 through 1806 or 1808.

The friendship between the Prince and the composer was very stormy at times. For example, because he was angry at the Prince once for inviting him to play for French officers, Beethoven allegedly returned home to Vienna and smashed the Prince's bust in his apartment! After Karl died in 1814, Beethoven wrote to the family, "...I have never forgotten what I owe to your family, even if an unfortunate event gave rise to circumstances in which I could not show it as I wished to."