Jan Santini Aichel
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2010) |
| Jan Blažej Santini Aichel | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 3, 1677 Prague, Czechia |
| Died | December 7, 1723 (aged 46) Prague, Czechia |
| Nationality | Bohemian |
| Work | |
| Practice | Giovanni Battista Santini |
| Buildings | Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk |
Jan Blažej Santini Aichel (February 3, 1677 – December 7, 1723) was a Czech architect of Italian descent, whose major works represent a curious amalgam of the Gothic and Baroque styles.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel (born 3rd February 1677 in Prague – died 7th December 1723 in Prague) was a renowned Czech architect of Italian origin (His grandfather Antonin Aichel moved from Italy to Prague in the 1630s), he became famous by Baroque gothic style.
He was born on St. Blažej's day as the oldest son to a respectable family of a Prague stonemasons, Santini Aichel and was christened in the St. Vitus Cathedral as Jan Blažej Aichel. He was born with a physical disability – paralysis of a half of his body. This prevented him from a successful follow-up to his father's career. He only served his time of apprenticeship (as did his brother František), but he also studied painting from the imperial and royal painter Kristián Schröder.
Around 1696 he started to travel and gain experience. After his journey through Austria he arrived in Rome, Italy, where he had the possibility to meet with the work of a radical architect, Francesco Boromini. [1] Borromini's influence is apparent in his predilection for star-shaped forms and complex symbolism. Many of his buildings are airy and elegant, yet he was considered a maverick genius by his contemporaries and exerted little influence on subsequent generations of Bohemian architects. It was in Italy where Santini incorporated into his name his father's name, Santini.
In 1700 Santini started to design independently and to build, which ensured his own income, he then became a member of one craft guild and founded his own construction company.
Santini married Schröder's daughter (Veronika Alžběta) in 1707. They had four children, but all three sons died from tuberculosis at an early age; the only child left was Anna Veronika (* 1713). Santini's wife died seven years later and he re-married a South Bohemian noblewoman, Antonie Ignatie Chrapická from Mohliškovice whereby Santini was ennobled. Daughter Jana Ludmila and son Jan Ignác Rochus were born from this marriage.
Santini acquired the style of J. B. Mathey and after his death also finished several works of him. In 1705, he bought Valkounský house (no. 211) in Nerudova street for 3000 gold coins in cash and rebuilt it. Santini became a well-known person, but unfortunately, he died at a fairly young age of 47 and some of his works therefore remained unfinished.
The asteroid 37699 Santini-Aichl is named in his honour.
[edit] Works
- Monastery Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist in Sedlec u Kutné Hory (reconstruction, 1703–1708, World Heritage Site)
- St. Anna Chapel in Panenské Břežany (1705–1707)
- Pilgrimage Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and Cistercian Provost Office in Mariánská Týnice (1707–1710)
- Convent of the Cistercian Monastery in Plasy (reconstruction, 1711–1723)
- Monastery Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, St Wolfgang and St Benedict in Kladruby u Stříbra (1711)
- Monastery Church of the Nativity of Virgin Mary in Želiv (reconstruction, 1714–1720)
- Pilgrimage Church of the Name of Virgin Mary in Křtiny u Brna (1718)
- Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora in Žďár nad Sázavou (1719–1727, World Heritage Site)
- Karlova Koruna Chateau in Chlumec nad Cidlinou (1721–1723)
- Church of St Wenceslas in Zvole (reconstruction)
- Church of St Peter and Paul in Horní Bobrová (1714)
- Church of the Visitation of Virgin Mary in Obyčtov
- Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Netín
- Provost Church of St Peter and Paul in Rajhrad (1721)
- Initial architect for the rebuilding of Zbraslav chateau
- Design and constructions of the Kalec chateau
- Reconstruction of Valkounsky House (No.211-III) in Prague - Malá Strana (after 1705)
- Gallery of selected works
-
Church of St Wenceslas in Zvole
-
Monastery Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, St Wolfgang and St Benedict in Kladruby u Stříbra
-
Convent of the Cistercian Monastery in Plasy complex
-
Interior of the Convent of the Cistercian Monastery in Plasy
-
Southern view of the Pilgrimage Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and Cistercian Provost Office in Mariánská Týnice
-
Karlova Koruna Chateau in Chlumec nad Cidlinou
-
Original 18th century drawing of Provost Church of St Peter and Paul in Rajhrad by Santini
[edit] References
- ^ Fleming, John, et al. (1972) The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture. Harmondsworth: Penguin; p. 10 "He was a freak, and had no influence or followers at all."
2. HORYNA, Mojmír J. B. Santini-Aichel – Život a dílo. Karolinum, Praha 1998, ISBN 80-7184-664-3.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel |
