Ferdinand Brokoff
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff (Czech
: Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, 12 September 1688 - 8 March 1731) was a sculptor
and carver of the Baroque
era.
He was born in Červený Hrádek near Chomutov
, Bohemia
, the second son of Elisabeth and Jan Brokoff
, and soon his talent surpassed that of his older brother, Michael Brokoff
, as well as his father. Ferdinand Brokoff's work is often equalized in importance with the work of Matthias Braun
. In the beginning he mostly helped his father but from 1708 he worked independently and two years later, in the age of 22, he acquired a reputation for his work on several statues on the Charles Bridge
in Prague (the statuary of St. Adalbert, the statue of St. Gaetano, the sculpture group of Francis Borgia, the statues of St. Ignatius and Francis Xaverius, statuary of Saints John of Matha, Felix of Valois and Ivo including the famous statue of Turk, etc.).
Around 1714 Ferdinand Brokoff began to cooperate with the Austria
n architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
and moved to Vienna
(while still working for Prague commissions, too) where he worked on the church of St. Charles Borromei. He was also active in Silesia
(Wrocław), but had to come back to Prague soon, owing to progressing tuberculosis
. Nevertheless, he continued to sculpt in Prague and made some significant pieces during the 1720s, such as the monumental statuary and pillar at the Hradčany square (Hradčanské náměstí, 1726). Around that time (1722) he was also supposed to create 13 pieces of the Calvary
to put in the niches of the New Castle Stairway, a project that was never realized.
Towards the end of his life, the illness gradually prevented him from working alone, thus he only created the designs and models and had them realized by his younger cooperators. He died in Prague
.
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
: Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, 12 September 1688 - 8 March 1731) was a sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and carver of the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
era.
He was born in Červený Hrádek near Chomutov
Chomutov
Chomutov is a city in the Czech Republic, in the Ústí nad Labem Region.Chomutov has been a statutory town since 1 July 2006. It occupies an area of 29,26 km² and has 50 782 inhabitants , thereby making it the 20th largest town in the Czech Republic, the 4th largest in the Ústí nad Labem...
, Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, the second son of Elisabeth and Jan Brokoff
Jan Brokoff
Jan Brokoff, also known as Johann Brokoff, was a baroque-era sculptor and carver.Brokoff was of German origin, born in Spišská Sobota, today in Slovakia, then in Royal Hungary, and later working and living in Bohemia...
, and soon his talent surpassed that of his older brother, Michael Brokoff
Michael Brokoff
Michael Johann Joseph Brokoff was a Czech sculptor of the Baroque era, working with sandstone....
, as well as his father. Ferdinand Brokoff's work is often equalized in importance with the work of Matthias Braun
Matthias Braun
Matthias Bernard Braun was a sculptor and carver active in the Czech lands, one of the most prominent late baroque style sculptors in the area....
. In the beginning he mostly helped his father but from 1708 he worked independently and two years later, in the age of 22, he acquired a reputation for his work on several statues on the Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century...
in Prague (the statuary of St. Adalbert, the statue of St. Gaetano, the sculpture group of Francis Borgia, the statues of St. Ignatius and Francis Xaverius, statuary of Saints John of Matha, Felix of Valois and Ivo including the famous statue of Turk, etc.).
Around 1714 Ferdinand Brokoff began to cooperate with the 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...
n architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
----Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, born Johann Bernhard Fischer was probably the most influential Austrian architect of the Baroque period....
and moved to 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...
(while still working for Prague commissions, too) where he worked on the church of St. Charles Borromei. He was also active in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
(Wrocław), but had to come back to Prague soon, owing to progressing tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Nevertheless, he continued to sculpt in Prague and made some significant pieces during the 1720s, such as the monumental statuary and pillar at the Hradčany square (Hradčanské náměstí, 1726). Around that time (1722) he was also supposed to create 13 pieces of the Calvary
Calvary
Calvary or Golgotha was the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early first century walls, at which the crucifixion of Jesus is said to have occurred. Calvary and Golgotha are the English names for the site used in Western Christianity...
to put in the niches of the New Castle Stairway, a project that was never realized.
Towards the end of his life, the illness gradually prevented him from working alone, thus he only created the designs and models and had them realized by his younger cooperators. He died in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.