A fascinating look into the life of the famous Czech architect who fused Baroque and Gothic styles.
At the turn of the eighteenth century, Jan Blaej Santini Aichel (16771723), commonly recognized as Santini, began his career as an architect in Prague and became world-renowned for his mystical Baroque Gothic architecture. In Jan Blaej Santini and His Architectural World, a new generation of scholars draws up a portrait of Santini and his gems of Czech Baroque architecture. From detailing the particulars of the everyday life of a genius architect growing up in Prague and studying under Italian architects to engaging with previous interpretations of Santinis work, this book interrogates the true value of Santinis influence on European architecture.
Entering the World of Santinis Architecture
A Basic Chronology of Santinis Life and Work
Chapter I. Santinis Fortuna Critica. The Phenomenon of Santini Aichel in
Czech and European Historical Memory
Chapter II. Bohemia, Italy France? Santinis Architectural Roots
Chapter III. A Geyser of Ideas as Creative Method. Santinis Beginnings as an
Architect
Chapter IV. Santini More Gothico
Chapter V. The Gesamtkunstwerk of Santinis Architecture. Collaboration With
Painters, Sculptors and Organ Builders
Chapter VI. Santini, Architect of Palaces and Chateaux
Chapter VII. Santinis Universe. The Architect as Creator of the Baroque
Monastic Landscape
Chapter VIII. The Architect on the Road. Jan Blaej Santini Aichel and the
Process of Design
Chapter IX. Between Client, Architect and Builder. Building Practice in the
Time of Jan Blaej Santini
Chapter X. Santinis Symbolic Ground-Plans. Mystery or Creative Game?
Chapter XI. Santinis Collaborators, Colleagues, Competitors and Heirs
Chapter XII. Santinis Synthesis. Zelená Hora by dár nad Sázavou
Epilogue. The Lucidity of Santinis Architecture
Notes
Bibliography
List of Illustrations
Ackowledgements
Index
Richard Biegel teaches at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Jií Kroupa is on faculty at Masaryk University. Petr Macek teaches art history at Charles University. Jakub Bachtík is a researcher at Charles Universitys Institute of Art History. Anna Bryson Gustová is an independent translator of Czech. Previously, she was a lecturer of intellectual history at Sussex University.
