Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger
Encyclopedia
Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger (24 June 1587 – 6 August 1639) was a Flemish
-Danish
architect
who specialised in the Dutch
Renaissance style
, typical of prestigious Danish buildings from the first half of the 17th century. Along with his brother Lorenz van Steenwinckel
he was responsible for most of King Christian IV
's many ambitious building projects.
He was the son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder
and the farther of Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest
and probably also the building master and engineer Oluf van Steenwinckel
.
who were originally from Antwerp but had come to Denmark in 1576 to work on Kronborg Castle
and subsequently became the preferred architect of Frederick II
. It was natural that he followed in his farther's footsteps and together with his brother Lorenz he went to the Netherlands
to study architecture and stone carving.
Back in Denmark, Hans and Lorenz van Steenwinckel would become involved in most of Christian IV's numerous huge building projects in the first decades of the 17th century, though it is often not clear exactly what their share was. Often many people have participated in the design of a building, both because of the extensive construction times from initial plans to completed building which was common at that time. In the same time large prestige buildings were far from static entities, rahter it was normal for them to see numerous extensions and reconstructions, developing gradually over the years. The enthusiastic King Christian IV himself is also known to have taken active part in the design of his many large buildings. To make matters even unclearer, it was a strategy of Christian IV, and possibly his advisors, to keep the authorship of a building hidden to suggest that king hilself was the author.
In the beginning of his career, Hans van Steenwinckel worked mainly as a sculptor, executing works both for Kronborg Castle
and Frederiksborg Palace
. He is credited for the octagonal tower at Rosenborg Castle
.
After Lorenz' death in 1619, Hans was appointed new Royal Master Builder, and took over ongoing projects, such as Christian IV's Chapel at Roskilde Cathedral
,under development since 1613, and the newly commenced Stock Exchange
in Copenhagen.
With the Trinitatis Complex, which includes the Round Tower
and Trinitatis Church, he turned to the new Dutch Baroque style, abandoning the Dutch Renaissance style which had until then been synonymous with his name.It was not completed until after his death.
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
-Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
architect
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
who specialised in the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Renaissance style
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
, typical of prestigious Danish buildings from the first half of the 17th century. Along with his brother Lorenz van Steenwinckel
Lorenz van Steenwinckel
Lorenz van Steenwinckel was a Flemish-Danish architect and sculptor, son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder and brother of Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger. From 1613, he was responsible for numerous projects commissioned by Christian IV...
he was responsible for most of King Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
's many ambitious building projects.
He was the son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder
Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder
Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder was a Flemish-Danish architect and sculptor. He worked on a large number of the most important Danish buildings of his time, although the exact scope of his contributions in many cases remains uncertain and much have been demolished or redesigned later...
and the farther of Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest
Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest
Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest was a Danish architect and sculptor, son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger and grandson of Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder. Following in the footsteps of his farther and grand farther, be became a Royal Building Master in 1669...
and probably also the building master and engineer Oluf van Steenwinckel
Oluf van Steenwinckel
Oluf van Steenwinckel was a Danish building master and engineer, probably the son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger. In the 1640s he worked at Nykøbing Castle among other places and from 1651-52 he was Copenhagen's first City Surveyor , involved in the cedestral registration and parcelling of...
.
Career
Hans van Steenwinckel were sons of the prime contractor and stonecutter Hans van Steenwinckel the ElderHans van Steenwinckel the Elder
Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder was a Flemish-Danish architect and sculptor. He worked on a large number of the most important Danish buildings of his time, although the exact scope of his contributions in many cases remains uncertain and much have been demolished or redesigned later...
who were originally from Antwerp but had come to Denmark in 1576 to work on Kronborg Castle
Kronborg Castle
Kronborg is a star fortress situated near the town of Helsingør on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden...
and subsequently became the preferred architect of Frederick II
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
. It was natural that he followed in his farther's footsteps and together with his brother Lorenz he went to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to study architecture and stone carving.
Back in Denmark, Hans and Lorenz van Steenwinckel would become involved in most of Christian IV's numerous huge building projects in the first decades of the 17th century, though it is often not clear exactly what their share was. Often many people have participated in the design of a building, both because of the extensive construction times from initial plans to completed building which was common at that time. In the same time large prestige buildings were far from static entities, rahter it was normal for them to see numerous extensions and reconstructions, developing gradually over the years. The enthusiastic King Christian IV himself is also known to have taken active part in the design of his many large buildings. To make matters even unclearer, it was a strategy of Christian IV, and possibly his advisors, to keep the authorship of a building hidden to suggest that king hilself was the author.
In the beginning of his career, Hans van Steenwinckel worked mainly as a sculptor, executing works both for Kronborg Castle
Kronborg Castle
Kronborg is a star fortress situated near the town of Helsingør on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden...
and Frederiksborg Palace
Frederiksborg Palace
Frederiksborg castle is a castle in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV, and is now known as The Museum of National History. The current building replaced a previous castle erected by Frederick II, and is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia...
. He is credited for the octagonal tower at Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle is a renaissance castle located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects...
.
After Lorenz' death in 1619, Hans was appointed new Royal Master Builder, and took over ongoing projects, such as Christian IV's Chapel at Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
,under development since 1613, and the newly commenced Stock Exchange
Børsen
Børsen is a building on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is built by Christian IV in 1619–1640 and is the oldest stock exchange in Denmark...
in Copenhagen.
With the Trinitatis Complex, which includes the Round Tower
Rundetårn
The Rundetårn is a 17th-century tower located in central Copenhagen, Denmark. One of the many architectural projects of Christian IV, it was built as an astronomical observatory...
and Trinitatis Church, he turned to the new Dutch Baroque style, abandoning the Dutch Renaissance style which had until then been synonymous with his name.It was not completed until after his death.
Selected works
Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger's contributions included:- Rosenborg CastleRosenborg CastleRosenborg Castle is a renaissance castle located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects...
- the octagonal tower (1616) - Christian IV's Chapel, Roskilde CathedralRoskilde CathedralRoskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
- after Lorenz' death in 1619 (1613–41 - Christian IV's Stock ExchangeBørsenBørsen is a building on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is built by Christian IV in 1619–1640 and is the oldest stock exchange in Denmark...
- after Lorenz's death (1619–23) - Frederiksborg PalaceFrederiksborg PalaceFrederiksborg castle is a castle in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV, and is now known as The Museum of National History. The current building replaced a previous castle erected by Frederick II, and is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia...
- Valdemars CastleValdemars CastleValdemars Castle is a small palace situated on the island of Tåsinge near Svendborg in southern Denmark.- History :...
- first castle (1631–39) - NyboderNyboderNyboder is a historic row house district of former Naval barracks in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was planned and first built by Christian IV to accommodate a need for housing for the personnel of the rapidly growing Royal Danish Navy and their families during that time...
- First, one-storied stage (1631–41) - Kronborg CastleKronborg CastleKronborg is a star fortress situated near the town of Helsingør on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden...
- rebuilding after the castle burned down in 1629 (1937) - The Round TowerRundetårnThe Rundetårn is a 17th-century tower located in central Copenhagen, Denmark. One of the many architectural projects of Christian IV, it was built as an astronomical observatory...
- completed after his death (1637–42) - Trinitatis Church - completed after his death (1637–57)