Jan Santini Aichel facts for kids

Jan Blažej Santini Aichel (born February 3, 1677 – died December 7, 1723) was a famous Czech architect. He was known for his unique "Baroque Gothic" style. This special style mixed the grand and dramatic Baroque with the tall and intricate Gothic styles. Santini Aichel's family came from Italy, but he was born in Prague, which is now in the Czech Republic.

Biography

Jan Santini Aichel was born on the day of Saint Blaise. He was the oldest son in a respected family of stonemasons in Prague. His grandfather, Antonio Aichel, had moved from Italy to Prague in the 1630s. Jan was baptized in the St. Vitus Cathedral as Johann Blasius Aichel.

He was born with a physical disability. Half of his body was paralyzed. This made it hard for him to follow in his father's footsteps as a stonemason. He did complete an apprenticeship, but he also studied painting. He learned from Christian Schröder, who was a painter for the emperor and king.

Around 1696, Santini began to travel to gain more experience. He traveled through Austria and then arrived in Rome, Italy. In Rome, he saw the amazing work of an architect named Francesco Borromini. Borromini's ideas influenced Santini a lot. You can see this in Santini's love for star-shaped designs and complex symbols.

Many of Santini's buildings look light and elegant. Even though his work was unique, he didn't influence many other architects of his time. While in Italy, Santini added his father's name, Santini, to his own.

In 1700, Santini started designing and building on his own. This helped him earn his own money. He became a member of a craft guild and started his own construction company.

Santini married Veronica Elisabeth, the daughter of Christian Schröder, in 1707. They had four children together. Sadly, three of their sons died young from tuberculosis. Only their daughter, Anna Veronika (born 1713), survived.

Santini's wife died seven years later. He then married Antonia Ignatia Chrapická, a noblewoman from South Bohemia. Because of this marriage, Santini became a nobleman himself. They had two children, a daughter named Jana Ludmila and a son named Jan Ignác Rochus.

Santini learned from the style of Jean Baptiste Mathey. After Mathey's death, Santini even finished some of his projects. In 1705, Santini bought the Valkounský house in Nerudova street for a lot of money and rebuilt it.

Santini became a well-known architect. Unfortunately, he died quite young at the age of 46. Because of his early death, some of his amazing works were left unfinished.

The asteroid 37699 Santini-Aichl is named in his honor.

Works

Jan Santini Aichel designed many important buildings. Here are some of his most famous works:

• Monastery Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist in Sedlec u Kutné Hory (reconstruction, 1703–1708). This is a World Heritage Site.
• Chapel of Saint Anne in Panenské Břežany (1705–1707).
• Pilgrimage Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and Cistercian Provost Office in Mariánská Týnice (1707–1710).
• Convent of the Cistercian Monastery in Plasy (reconstruction, 1711–1723).
• Monastery Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, St Wolfgang and St Benedict in Kladruby (1711).
• Monastery Church of the Nativity of Virgin Mary in Želiv (reconstruction, 1714–1720).
• Pilgrimage Church of the Name of Virgin Mary in Křtiny (1718).
• Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora in Žďár nad Sázavou (1719–1727). This is also a World Heritage Site.
• Karlova Koruna Chateau in Chlumec nad Cidlinou (1721–1723).
• Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Zvole (reconstruction).
• Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Horní Bobrová (1714).
• Church of the Visitation of Virgin Mary in Obyčtov.
• Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Netín.
• Provost Church of St Peter and Paul in Rajhrad (1721).
• He was the first architect for the rebuilding of Zbraslav chateau.
• He designed and built the Kalec chateau.
• He reconstructed Valkounsky House (No.211-III) in Prague - Malá Strana (after 1705).

Gallery

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  Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora, a World Heritage Site

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  Ground plan of the church on Zelená hora

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  Church of St. Wenceslaus in Zvole

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  Monastery Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, St Wolfgang and St Benedict in Kladruby

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  Convent of the Cistercian Monastery in Plasy complex

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  Interior of the Convent of the Cistercian Monastery in Plasy

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  Pilgrimage Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and Cistercian Provost Office in Mariánská Týnice

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  Karlova Koruna Chateau in Chlumec nad Cidlinou

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  Original 18th century drawing of Provost Church of St Peter and Paul in Rajhrad by Santini

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  Stairs of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist, Sedlec

See also

In Spanish: Jan Santini para niños