Anton Pilgram
Encyclopedia
Anton Pilgram (around 1460, Brno
(?) – 1516, Vienna
) was a late medieval Austrian (German
) architect
and sculptor active in the area of today's Czech Republic
, Austria
and western Germany
. Pilgram is known as the sculptor of the portal
of Old City Hall in Brno and craftsman of the pulpit
in St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna. He spent a major part of his life in Brno, Moravia
.
. His earliest work was a chancel
at the St Kilian Church in Heilbronn. However, research by Kaliopi Chamonikola, 2004, disputes the attribution of the design of the chancel to Pilgram. He created his early architectural works mainly in Swabia
, Germany. He participated in the building of the St. George Church in Schwieberdingen
and St Lawrence Chapel in Rottweil
. During his stay in Swabia, he became familiar with the works of Italian and German Renaissance
artists.
He came back to Brno around 1495, and he worked there as a sculptor and stonemason
at the St Jacob Church and Judentor (Jews' Gate, 1508). Among his most important works are wooden sculptures of Saint Peter Martyr
and a Dominican saint, created around 1511, and particularly the portal of the Old City Hall (1512).
In 1512 Pilgram became a cathedral builder of the St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. There he concentrated mainly on smaller architectonic forms, such as the cathedral pulpit (built from 1514 to 1515) and various relief sculptures. Pilgram probably died in Vienna around 1516.
of Leiden in Middle Europe. His figural sculptures express a high level of individuality, and are not entirely within medieval artistic expression. Czech art historian Albert Kutal indicated also possible influence of north Italian Renaissance
sculpture and paintings by Andrea Mantegna
.
According to preserved historical documents, Pilgram was a self-confident and contentious artist, who often asserted his artistic individuality against the will of guilds and other institutions.
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
(?) – 1516, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
) was a late medieval Austrian (German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
) architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and sculptor active in the area of today's Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and western Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Pilgram is known as the sculptor of the portal
Portal (architecture)
Portal is a general term describing an opening in the walls of a building, gate or fortification, and especially a grand entrance to an important structure. Doors, metal gates or portcullis in the opening can be used to control entry or exit. The surface surrounding the opening may be made of...
of Old City Hall in Brno and craftsman of the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
in St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna. He spent a major part of his life in Brno, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
.
Biography
He was probably trained in Vienna, and following that, in 1481, he was invited to HeilbronnHeilbronn
Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is completely surrounded by Heilbronn County and with approximately 123.000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in the state....
. His earliest work was a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
at the St Kilian Church in Heilbronn. However, research by Kaliopi Chamonikola, 2004, disputes the attribution of the design of the chancel to Pilgram. He created his early architectural works mainly in Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
, Germany. He participated in the building of the St. George Church in Schwieberdingen
Schwieberdingen
Schwieberdingen is a town of about 10,700 inhabitants located in Southwest Germany. The city founded in 1304 is 10 km away from Ludwigsburg and 14 km away from Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg....
and St Lawrence Chapel in Rottweil
Rottweil
Rottweil is a town in the south west of Germany and is the oldest town in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.Located between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb hills, Rottweil has about 25,000 inhabitants...
. During his stay in Swabia, he became familiar with the works of Italian and German Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
artists.
He came back to Brno around 1495, and he worked there as a sculptor and stonemason
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
at the St Jacob Church and Judentor (Jews' Gate, 1508). Among his most important works are wooden sculptures of Saint Peter Martyr
Peter of Verona
Saint Peter of Verona O.P. , also known as Saint Peter Martyr, was a 13th century Italian Catholic priest. He was a Dominican friar and a celebrated preacher...
and a Dominican saint, created around 1511, and particularly the portal of the Old City Hall (1512).
In 1512 Pilgram became a cathedral builder of the St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. There he concentrated mainly on smaller architectonic forms, such as the cathedral pulpit (built from 1514 to 1515) and various relief sculptures. Pilgram probably died in Vienna around 1516.
Style
Anton Pilgram is considered to be one of the most talented descendants of Nikolaus GerhaertNikolaus Gerhaert
Nikolaus Gerhaert , also known as Nikolaus Gerhaert von Leyden, was a sculptor of Dutch origin, although aside from his sculptures, few details are known of his life.- Biography :...
of Leiden in Middle Europe. His figural sculptures express a high level of individuality, and are not entirely within medieval artistic expression. Czech art historian Albert Kutal indicated also possible influence of north Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
sculpture and paintings by Andrea Mantegna
Andrea Mantegna
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian painter, a student of Roman archeology, and son in law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna experimented with perspective, e.g., by lowering the horizon in order to create a sense of greater monumentality...
.
According to preserved historical documents, Pilgram was a self-confident and contentious artist, who often asserted his artistic individuality against the will of guilds and other institutions.
External links
- Současné teoretické přístupy k dílu Antona Pilgrama s důrazem na jeho tvorbu ve Vídni, na Moravě a na Slovensku - Thesis by Lucie Valdhansová (abstract)
- The Artistic Identity of the Architect and Sculptor Anton Pilgram, by Kaliopi Chamonikola Umeni: Art; LII, 2004, No. 5 (summary)
- Antonín Pilgram - architekt, sochař, stavitel, kameník, řezbář. Brno - official website
- Encyclopedia of the City of Brno
- Anton Pilgram - Moravian Gallery
- Anton Pilgram (úvahy k symbolice uměleckého díla)