Matthias Braun

Matthias Bernard Braun (Czech: Matyas Bernard Braun ) (* February 25, 1684 Sautens in Tyrol, † February 16, 1738 in Prague) was one of the greatest sculptors of the Baroque in Bohemia.

Childhood and wandering

Matthias Bernard Braun was born into an artistic family; his talent was recognized early. Even as a boy he learned the work of the sculptor and woodcarver Andreas Thamasch know who had his workshop in the nearby Stams and the famous Calvary has created over the royal crypt of the monastery of Stams. From 1700-1704 he undertook - presumably with the support of Stamser Abbot Edmund Zoz - a pilgrimage to Italy. In Venice, Verona, Florence and Rome, he had the opportunity to get to know the works of the masters of the Renaissance and Baroque sculpture. Especially the work of Michelangelo should have inspired him. He spent another four years then on a tour through Austria and Bohemia, and met in the Dresden court sculptor Balthasar Permoser, who was one of the most famous Baroque sculptors north of the Alps. In 1710 Braun settled in Prague.

Success and advancement

Already in the year of his arrival in Prague Brown created the statue of St. Luitgard for Prague's Charles Bridge, which corresponded completely to the style of the time in its turbulent design and introduced him with one blow. This was followed by large orders of ecclesiastical institutions, religious communities and noble families.

Brown created numerous holy figures and figure groups for churches as well as sculptures of palaces and gardens, often in collaboration with the renowned artists Peter Johann Brandl, Franz Maximilian Kanka and Wenzel Lorenz Reiner.

His biggest supporter was the wealthy Count Franz Anton von Spork, a critic of the Jesuits and advocate of early Enlightenment in Bohemia, the Braun had already met him on his wanderings in Bolzano. After Brown had created for the castle in Lissa on the Elbe several sculptures, Spork was also commissioned with the sculptural aspect of his new country seat Kukus, the brown adorned with many allegorical sculptures. In the nearby Parco Neuwald ( Nový les ), he created several protruding from the floor of the forest sandstone blocks large sculptures, guided by the desire to creatively intervene in the landscape. At the sculpture park also includes the representation of a manger, from which the area ( Betlem ) got the name " Bethlehem ". Kuks and its surroundings were Brauns works at a center of Baroque sculpture in Bohemia.

Marriage and Family

1711 acquired the Bohemian Brown Civil Rights and married 1717 Elisabeth Myselius. The couple had five children. Due to the high demand for his works, he reached a considerable possession. His final resting place he found in the St. Stephen's Church in Prague. The sculptor's workshop was continued by his nephew Anton Brown.

Works in Prague

Statues on Charles Bridge

  • St. Luitgard (1710 )
  • St. Ivo (1711 )
  • St. Wenceslas and St. Ludmila ( 1720 )

Palace

  • Clam- Gallas: decoration of the staircase, portal atlases as well as statues of gods to the attic (the originals are in the National Gallery )
  • Czernin: Sculptures in the stairwell
  • Thun- Hohenstein: two eagles decorate the portal
  • Vrtbovská: Sculptures of the terrace garden
  • Großprioratspalais: facade and staircase

Other

  • Clementinum: Statues of the Church Fathers and Evangelists, pulpit, confessional and side altars in St. Clement 's Church (1716-1721)
  • Villa America: stone sculptures of the four seasons in the garden of the villa

Works in and around Kuks

  • Allegory of 8 Beatitudes (1713 )
  • Angel of the blessed and the accursed death
  • 12 trucks and 12 virtues ( 1718-1719 )
  • Allegory of Religion ( 1719)
  • Allegory of Justice and Truth ( 1720)
  • Neuwald ( Nový les ): The Bible of sandstone rock sculpture park in Bethlehem ( Betlem ) ( 1722-1732 )
  • Stangendorf at Kuks ( Stanovice ): Sculptural design of the Trinity Chapel ( 1720)

Works in other places

  • Altbunzlau: statue group in the St. Wenceslas Basilica; High altar of the Assumption Church (along with FM Kanka )
  • Beneschau: statues of Sts. Adalbert Prokop and in the parish of St. Nicholas
  • Dux: sculptures and vases in front of the courtyard of the castle
  • Hertin: Statue of King David
  • Hlavenec: Monumental Monument to Emperor Charles VI.
  • Hořovice: sculptures in the castle park
  • Jaroměř: Marian Column
  • Kladrau: altar statues and sculptures of the Church Fathers and Holy Orders in the Marienkirche, sculptures in the refectory, including the figure of Count Franz Anton Šporkovský.
  • Konopischt: Statues of Bellona and Mars at the castle gate
  • Libčan ( Libčany ): Tomb of Count Peter Straka of Nedabylice in St. Mary's Church
  • Liběchov: Perseus sculpture in the castle park
  • Litomischel: Ross -link sculpture at the Royal Stables ( 1725)
  • Lysa nad Labem: Sculptures for the palace and gardens
  • Neustadt an der Mettau: 24 garden gnomes in the castle park. ( The dwarves were originally intended for Kuks. )
  • Teplitz: Holy Trinity Column on the Palace Square (1718 )
  • Trautenau: Nepomuk statue and figure group Holy Family
  • Waltsch ( Valeč ): Holy Trinity Column in front of the church and 32 sculptures in the castle park
  • Zittolib ( Citoliby ): Sculptural design of the St. Jacob's Church (1715 ) and the Castle ( 1718)
Teplice Burial vault (enclosure) Franz Anton von Sporck Attica Černín Palace Adalbert of Prague Duchcov Kladruby Bellona (goddess) Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Integrated Authority File
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