Willem van den Blocke

Willem van den Block (c. 1550 in Mechelen; † in January 1628 in Danzig) was a sculptor and architect of Flemish descent. His works belong stylistically to Mannerism.

Family

His father, Franciscus van den Block, was probably also a sculptor. Aegidius van den Block, possibly brother of William, was awarded on June 6, 1573 the right to practice the profession of a sculptor.

Willem was married to Dorothea Wolff. He was the father of at least seven children, including the sculptor Abraham, Jacob - Zimmermann, Isaac and David - both painters, Catherine, Susanna and another daughter.

Willem van den Block was Baptist ( Anabaptist ), which often brought him trouble.

Life

He was employed in the workshop of Cornelis Floris in Antwerp. In 1569 he came to Königsberg, where he worked in 1571 with a group of Floris - sculptor at the statue of Prince Albrecht in the local cathedral. In 1581 he created a tomb of the Princess Elizabeth, the first wife of Prince Georg Friedrich I. (Brandenburg -Ansbach - Kulmbach ), † 1578th

He then worked 1581-1583 at the Tomb of Christopher Báthory, the brother of the king of Poland Stefan Batory in Barczewo.

Beginning of 1584 he came to Gyulafehérvár in Transylvania, where he erected a tomb in the local church.

Willem van den Block was born on June 18, 1584 to Gdansk with a recommendation signature of King Stephen of Poland. His most important work in Gdańsk was the establishment of the High Gate (up to 1588). He also created numerous epitaphs and tombstones. Are attributed to him in some town houses in Danzig and Elbing and stone carvings.

Works received

  • Epitaph of Edward Blemke in St. Mary's Church, 1591
  • Tomb of the King of Sweden, John III. Vasa in Uppsala Cathedral, (1593-1596); was supported until 1782 in the Great armory in Gdansk, and assembled at the destination until 1817-1818
  • Tomb of Ture Nilsson Bielke and his wife Margaret Svantesdotter Sture in the cathedral of Linköping, 1615
  • Epitaph Blemke in St. Mary's Church in Gdansk
  • Epitaph Blemke Fragment with the resurrection scene from the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 37
  • Tomb of Johann III. (Sweden) in Uppsala Cathedral
  • Tomb Ture Bielke and his wife in the cathedral of Linköping

Accretion of works (selection)

Epitaphs

  • Family fire in the St. Mary's Church, 1588
  • Christoph von Dohna in Saint Canute's Kirke in Odense in Denmark, 1586
  • Valentin Bodecker in Nikolausdom to Elbing, 1587
  • Family Stroband in the Ascension Church to Thorn, 1590

Tombs

  • Kos family in Oliwa Cathedral, 1600 or 1620
  • Martin de Berzewice in Lisnowo at Brodnica, 1592 ( destroyed 1939)
  • Andrew and Balthasar Báthory at St. Andrew's Church in Barczewo, 1598
  • Peter Tarnowski in the cathedral to Łowicz, after 1604
  • Stanislaus Radziwill in the former Bernardine church in Vilnius, 1618-1623

Houses portals

  • Lange Gasse 55 in Gdansk, home of the Gdansk Archers of St. George ( late 16th century )
  • Esken house in Thorn ( 1590 )

Tomb Stanislaw Radziwill, former Bernardine church in Vilnius

Portal by Esken house in Thorn 1590

Gdańsk Abraham van den Blocke Cornelis Floris de Vriendt George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach Elbląg John III of Sweden Bjelke (noble family) St. Canute's Cathedral Neue Deutsche Biographie Integrated Authority File
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