Baroque Architecture of Germany

frauenkirche, dresden

baroque architecture began in 17th century in italy, reinventing humanist roman vocabulary of renaissance architecture in new rhetorical, theatrical, sculptural fashion, expressing triumph of absolutist church , state. whereas renaissance drew on wealth , power of italian courts, , blend of secular , religious forces, baroque directly linked counter-reformation, movement within catholic church reform in response protestant reformation.

the baroque style arrived in germany after thirty years war. baroque architecture of german government royal , princely houses based on model of france, court of louis xiv @ versailles. examples zwinger palace in dresden built matthäus daniel pöppelmann 1709 1728, holding of court festivals. architecture of absolutism put ruler @ center, increasing spatial composition, example, power of ruler - perhaps in form of magnificent staircase leading person of ruler.

the interaction of architecture, painting , sculpture essential feature of baroque architecture. important example würzburg residence emperor s hall , staircase, construction began under leadership of johann balthasar neumann, in 1720. frescoes in staircase made giovanni battista tiepolo 1751 1753.

other well-known baroque palaces new palace in potsdam, schloss charlottenburg in berlin, schloss weißenstein in pommersfelden , augustusburg castle in brühl, interiors partly in rococo style.

rococo late phase of baroque, in decoration became more abundant , showed colors in brighter tones. example, sanssouci palace, built 1745 1747, former summer palace of frederick great, king of prussia, in potsdam, near berlin. counted among german rivals of versailles.

among best known examples include bavarian baroque church in benedictine ottobeuren, weltenburg monastery, ettal abbey , st. john nepomuk church, called asam church in munich. other examples of baroque church architecture basilica of vierzehnheiligen in upper franconia , rebuilt frauenkirche in dresden, created george bähr between 1722 , 1743.