How did Franz Schubert’s illness affect his life and work after 1822?

At the close of 1822, Franz Schubert contracted a venereal disease, likely syphilis, which profoundly impacted his life and career.1

The year 1823 was defined by illness and periods of retirement, including time spent in the hospital. Despite his deteriorating health, Schubert continued to compose almost incessantly. His personal state during this time was often marked by dejection; in a letter from March 1824, he described himself as the most miserable being in the world, feeling both penniless and plagued by a sense of failure.1

However, his illness did not halt his creative output. During these difficult years, he produced some of his most significant works, including:

• The song cycle Die schöne Müllerin (1823)1
• The String Quartet in A Minor (1824)1
• The String Quartet in D Minor ("Death and the Maiden") (1824)1
• The Octet in F Major (1824)1

While his health fluctuated, his reputation continued to grow, and public performances of his music in Vienna helped ease his financial strain.1