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DOI Artikel:Artykuły
DOI Artikel:Skibiński, Franciszek: Architekci, budowniczowie, kamieniarze i rzeźbiarze obcego pochodzenia w Gdańsku 1550-1630. Szkic z dziejów migracji artystycznej
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.71007#0037
Architekci, budowniczowie, kamieniarze i rzeźbiarze obcego pochodzenia w Gdańsku
35
Architects, Builders, Stonemasons, and Sculptors
of Foreign Descent in Gdansk in 1550-1630.
An Overview of the History of Artistic Migration
The article focuses on the immigration of architects,
master builders, stonemasons, and sculptors to
modern Gdansk, one of the major centres of north-
eastern Europe in view of artistic migration. Thanks
to the newcomers from afar the city that was thriving
and enjoyed a growing political reputation in the
latter half of the 16th century became one of the
leading artistic centres of the region. The paper
focuses on the issues related to the chronology and
major migration routes, factors enabling the in-
tegration of the immigrants, and their contribution to
the transformation taking place in the art and ar-
chitecture of the city as well as of the region.
Sixteenth-century Gdansk offered all the
conditions essential to attract architects, artists, and
craftsmen related to the building crafts, even if they
came from remote places, the immigration including
skilled labour and necessary materials. The city
authorities provided the newcomers with good
working conditions, while members ofthe city elites
constituted excellent customers. The immigrants
settling in Gdansk included both newcomers from the
German territories and from the Netherlands. Among
the first, Hans Kramer from Dresden (in Gdansk from
1565) as well Hans Schneider von Lindau from
around Lake Constance (from 1580) were outstanding
figures; they were accompanied by journeymen and
assistants who came from the same regions as they
did. The Netherlanders began to arrive in Gdansk in
the mid-century, by the end of it becoming the leading
group. Among the most outstanding individuals,
mention could be made of Master Ragnier from
Amsterdam, Frederik Vroom from Haarlem, Paul van
Doren from Antwerp (Mechelen), Willem van der
Meer from Ghent, Burchardt Janssen from Zwolle,
Anthonis van Obbergen from Mechelen, and the
sculptor Willem van den Blocke, also from
Mechelen. Next to illustrious masters, the present
study also draws attention to the journeymen,
previously neglected though employed in the studios
of renown masters and without whom the actual
extent and quality of the output in the building and
sculpture ateliers would have been impossible.
Many of the architects, artists, and craftsmen
settled in Gdansk were related by various
professional and private links, stemming sometimes
from their places of descent or the centres they had
been active in prior to their arrival in Gdansk. The
availability of journeymen facilitated their career,
since they had easier access to skilled assistants and
materials necessary for executing their respective
orders, as well as enabled the flow of information
related to, e.g., construction projects implemented
in the region.
Another factor contributing to the artisans'
integration was membership in respective guilds: of
bricklayers, stonemasons, and sculptors. Such
membership did not only allow the artists coming
from afar to legally perform their profession, but
also assigned them a position in the city's com-
munity. The artistic exchange was prompted by,
among others, the movement ofjourneymen among
various workshops. The integration of architects and
engineers arriving in Gdansk was additionally
facilitated by the city authorities. Highly skilled
specialists present in the city boosted its prestige,
enabled implementations of various construction
plans, yet it first and foremost consolidated the city's
security, thus its political and economic standing.
Large construction projects as well as other jobs
commissioned by the authorities stimulated co-
operation and exchange among the masters and their
workshops.
The presence of artists and architects from
around Europe played a major role in shaping the art
and architecture of modern Gdansk. A synthesis of
various artistic traditions found its most exquisite
expression in the art of Abraham van den Blocke
who headed the leading sculpture and stonemason
workshop active in Gdansk in the first quarter of the
17th century. The presence of skilled and experienced
architects and artists of foreign descent in Gdansk
additionally allowed for the external expansion ofthe
centre. Building specialists, linked with the city,
enjoyed good reputation and were often employed in
other, even distant centres, which can be seen on the
examples of Frederik Vroom, Hans Schneider von
Lindau, Anthonis van Obbergen, or Willem van der
Meer. As regards sculpture, the key role in the
expansion of Gdansk was played by the studio run
by Willem van den Blocke and subsequently by his
son Abraham.
Translated by Magdalena Iwińska
35
Architects, Builders, Stonemasons, and Sculptors
of Foreign Descent in Gdansk in 1550-1630.
An Overview of the History of Artistic Migration
The article focuses on the immigration of architects,
master builders, stonemasons, and sculptors to
modern Gdansk, one of the major centres of north-
eastern Europe in view of artistic migration. Thanks
to the newcomers from afar the city that was thriving
and enjoyed a growing political reputation in the
latter half of the 16th century became one of the
leading artistic centres of the region. The paper
focuses on the issues related to the chronology and
major migration routes, factors enabling the in-
tegration of the immigrants, and their contribution to
the transformation taking place in the art and ar-
chitecture of the city as well as of the region.
Sixteenth-century Gdansk offered all the
conditions essential to attract architects, artists, and
craftsmen related to the building crafts, even if they
came from remote places, the immigration including
skilled labour and necessary materials. The city
authorities provided the newcomers with good
working conditions, while members ofthe city elites
constituted excellent customers. The immigrants
settling in Gdansk included both newcomers from the
German territories and from the Netherlands. Among
the first, Hans Kramer from Dresden (in Gdansk from
1565) as well Hans Schneider von Lindau from
around Lake Constance (from 1580) were outstanding
figures; they were accompanied by journeymen and
assistants who came from the same regions as they
did. The Netherlanders began to arrive in Gdansk in
the mid-century, by the end of it becoming the leading
group. Among the most outstanding individuals,
mention could be made of Master Ragnier from
Amsterdam, Frederik Vroom from Haarlem, Paul van
Doren from Antwerp (Mechelen), Willem van der
Meer from Ghent, Burchardt Janssen from Zwolle,
Anthonis van Obbergen from Mechelen, and the
sculptor Willem van den Blocke, also from
Mechelen. Next to illustrious masters, the present
study also draws attention to the journeymen,
previously neglected though employed in the studios
of renown masters and without whom the actual
extent and quality of the output in the building and
sculpture ateliers would have been impossible.
Many of the architects, artists, and craftsmen
settled in Gdansk were related by various
professional and private links, stemming sometimes
from their places of descent or the centres they had
been active in prior to their arrival in Gdansk. The
availability of journeymen facilitated their career,
since they had easier access to skilled assistants and
materials necessary for executing their respective
orders, as well as enabled the flow of information
related to, e.g., construction projects implemented
in the region.
Another factor contributing to the artisans'
integration was membership in respective guilds: of
bricklayers, stonemasons, and sculptors. Such
membership did not only allow the artists coming
from afar to legally perform their profession, but
also assigned them a position in the city's com-
munity. The artistic exchange was prompted by,
among others, the movement ofjourneymen among
various workshops. The integration of architects and
engineers arriving in Gdansk was additionally
facilitated by the city authorities. Highly skilled
specialists present in the city boosted its prestige,
enabled implementations of various construction
plans, yet it first and foremost consolidated the city's
security, thus its political and economic standing.
Large construction projects as well as other jobs
commissioned by the authorities stimulated co-
operation and exchange among the masters and their
workshops.
The presence of artists and architects from
around Europe played a major role in shaping the art
and architecture of modern Gdansk. A synthesis of
various artistic traditions found its most exquisite
expression in the art of Abraham van den Blocke
who headed the leading sculpture and stonemason
workshop active in Gdansk in the first quarter of the
17th century. The presence of skilled and experienced
architects and artists of foreign descent in Gdansk
additionally allowed for the external expansion ofthe
centre. Building specialists, linked with the city,
enjoyed good reputation and were often employed in
other, even distant centres, which can be seen on the
examples of Frederik Vroom, Hans Schneider von
Lindau, Anthonis van Obbergen, or Willem van der
Meer. As regards sculpture, the key role in the
expansion of Gdansk was played by the studio run
by Willem van den Blocke and subsequently by his
son Abraham.
Translated by Magdalena Iwińska