Johann Prokop Mayer

Johann Prokop Mayer ( born July 2, 1737 Schmeczna, Bohemia, then Austria, † July 25, 1804 in Würzburg ) was a well-known throughout Europe lust and flower gardener. In fürstbischöflich Wurzburg services he created the backyard garden of the Wurzburg Residence.

Life

After three years of apprenticeship in Prague Mayer withdrew in 1755 as a journeyman through Germany, Austria, France, Holland and England. In the years 1760/61 Mayer worked for 15 months as a journeyman in Veitshöchheimer courtyard garden at the former head gardener Joseph Georg Ott.

In 1770 he took over as the successor to the post of gardener Johann Demeter at the Würzburg Prince- Bishop Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim and kept this job until his death. Here he worked among others to 1779 the plans for the redesign of the Hofgarten, which were also largely been implemented. At the same time he worked as a planner and consultant for the noble houses of neighboring dominions.

Between 1776 and 1801 he published his three-volume textbook on fruits customer Pomona Franconica with botanical book illustrations of Niirnberger Wolfgang Adam. In his standard work Pomological Mayer described all cultured in the courtyard garden of fruit as well as his many years of experience in the fruit tree breeding. In full-page panels artfully cut shape fruit trees and hand-colored engravings over 500 mature fruits are shown. About this book together with the Bavarian Palace Department, organized in 2007, the University Library of Würzburg and the Martin-von -Wagner- Museum an exhibition at the Würzburg Residence. Thus, a Munich art dealer was attentive and switched from a private collection, a double portrait of the gardener and his wife Eleonora originating from Gaibach Winterstein, that the Martin-von -Wagner- Museum bought in May 2009. Only with these portraits can be shown in autumn 2009 for the first time a portrait of the Würzburg court gardener to the public. The two pastels in 1786 were painted by a native of Moravia painter Peter Strassburg, who lived in Würzburg since 1774. The portraits carry on the back the signature Mayering, from which the experts conclude that both portraits are from the family 's youngest daughter Mayers.

Publications

• Directory of the fruit trees of the best, rarest and most valued genera. Within the court and residential garden of His Princely Graces of the Most Reverend princes and bishops of Bamberg and Wirz castle, ... be drawn dermal under the supervision of dasigen gardener ... velvet a description of both the trees as fruits, and display of the beyläufigen time of their Maturing = Catalogue des arbres à fruits les plus excellents, les plus rares, les plus éstimés, qui se cultivent actuellement dans le jardin de la cour sous la direction de la cour du jardinier, Wirz castle: John Mayer; Nitribitt, 1774th
• Pomona Franconica or natural map and description of the best and most exquisite European species of fruit trees and fruits, which are drawn in the high Princely Hofgarten Würzburg, Publisher winter Schmidt, Nuremberg 1776-1801
• Directory of domestic and foreign plants of flowers, perennials, shrubs and trees, which dermal to find court and residential garden in the local high Princely us in both free men, as drawn in glass and greenhouses, and secures are: For convenience and memory of ..., Sartorius, Würzburg 1786
• Directory of the fruit trees of the best genera which dermal bey Johann Meyer, head gardener are going to have to Würzburg = Catalogue des arbres - fruitiers of meilleures especes qui se trouvent chez Jean Mayer, jardinier de la cour a Wirz Bourg, Sartorius, Würzburg 1792