František Maxmilián Kaňka

Franz Maximilian Kanka (Czech: František Maxmilian Kanka; * August 9, 1674 in Prague, † July 14, 1766 ibid ) was a Bohemian architect. His work is attributed to the classical Baroque.

Family

Franz Maximilian's parents were the Prague architect Kanka Veit and Catherine NN In 1700 he married Ludmilla Rozmiller ( 1674-1736 ), with whom he had two daughters and two sons. According to Ludmilla's death he married in 1737 to Catherine of Mala Tulechov († 1774), who gave birth to a daughter and two sons. Son Johann Nepomuk became a prominent lawyer and composer.

Even Franz Maximilian brothers were active as an artist:

• Andreas (1681-1734) was a painter and gilder
• Anton (* 1684) was a goldsmith and
• Johann Wenzel ( * 1685) was a builder.

Profession

Kankas training took place in the construction of his father Veit Kanka (1650-1717), in whose studio he was allowed to participate at a young age designs. In 1700 he started his own business as a builder.

He built numerous churches, palaces and commercial buildings in Prague and other Czech places as well as in Vienna. On behalf of the Landgrave Furstenberg he drew up the plans for the city church in Donaueschingen. His building projects he realized his own and other designs and also worked with other builders and the architect Giovanni Battista Alliprandi, Kilian Ignaz Dietzenhofer and Jan Blazej Santini - Aichl. Also Matthias Bernard Braun and Wenzel Lorenz Reiner, with whom he was friends, working on joint projects.

His clients come from all walks of life, especially from the Bohemian country nobility, but also of monasteries and other religious institutions. In 1708 he entered the service of the Czernin family. The noble families Liechtenstein - Kastelkorn of Vrtbovská, Mansfeld, Trauttmansdorff, Kinsky and Waldstein gave him works.

Kankas architecture, which he enriched by decorative Aktzente as gables, porches and towers was moderate- conservative. In addition, he is said to have a secure feeling for the insertion of a building in the given environment.

Together with Michael Wenzel Halbax and Franz Preiß he undertook in 1709 a vain attempt to establish an art school in Prague. Emperor Charles VI. appointed him in 1724 to the court architect. The former ( Bohemian ) German society for science, art and literature established the eponymous Kanka Foundation.

Works (selection)

In Prague

• Clementinum: Astronomical Tower, Mirror Chapel and Library Hall (1723-1724)
• Carolinum: conversion work (1715-1718)
• Prague's Old Town: Benedictine convent at the Church of St Nicholas (together with Kilian Ignaz Dietzenhofer )
• Town of Prague: St. Augustine's Church (1737-1741)
• Prague Castle: Castrum Doloris in St. Vitus Cathedral for Jakob Hermann Czernin (1710 )
• Czernin Palace: reconstruction with the monumental stairs (1717-1733)
• Vtrba Palace: Plans for the terrace garden ( Vtrbovská zahrada )
• Vinoř Castle (Prague- Vinoř ) ( 1719-1723 )
• Castle Zbraslav: convent building (designed by Santini - Aichl )

In Bohemia

• Castle Karlskron: Construction management (designed by Santini - Aichl )
• Liběchov: Conversion for Johann Joachim Pacht of Reihofen (1725-1730)
• Jemniště: Castle for Adam Franz Trautmann village ( 1724)
• The château: Baroque reconstruction of the castle for Jan Josef von Vrtbovská
• Kutna Hora: John of Nepomuk Chapel (1734-1754)
• Leitomischl: Piaristenkirche to cross discovery (of Alliprandi started )
• Castle Litomyšl: transformation in the style of classicism
• Prusing, reconstruction of the church, James the Elder (1722)
• Castle Schönhof: Baroque style (1720-1724)
• Monastery Třebíč: restoration of the monastery church (1725-1737)
• Veltrusy: Baroque Castle of Count Wenzel Anton Chotková of Chotkow

Outside of Bohemia

• Vienna: John Nepomuk Chapel at the Czernin Palace Garden (1709-1712)
• Donaueschingen: Design for the town church ( 1724)