Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach

Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, also "Fischer von Erlach the younger" (13 September 1693 in Vienna; 29 June 1742 in Vienna) was an Austrian
architect of the baroque, Rococo and baroque classicism. As of November 14, 2006, most of the information was a direct translation from the corresponding German Wikipedia article: [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Emanuel_Fischer_von_Erlach De-WP-JEFischer] .]

Life and career

He was the son of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. He continued some projects of his father, in particular, the Karlskirche in Vienna, the "Hofbibliothek" (Imperial Library), and the "Winterreitschultrakt" (Winter Riding School) of the Hofburg. However, after his father, he also worked on many palaces, castles, and churches, as well as numerous monuments, gardens, tombs, and altars (see "Works" below).

He first developed his skills in his father's Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach workshop. In 1711, he worked on several of his father's commissions (e.g. Palais Dietrichstein, Trautson Palace, Böhmi Hofkanzlei, Schwarzenberg Palace) and also helped complete the publication "Draft of a historical architecture"; whose four volumes inspired many later designs. Through this work, Joseph Emanuel came into contact both with the architecture of his and earlier times and with Berne, his father's noble order.

His father also involved Joseph Emanuel in the writing of "Folders and Outlines of some Gemäude of Vienna, self-drawn from J.E.F.v.E.," with a preface by the court antiquarian Carl Gustav Heraeus. This publication was resumed laterby Salomon Kleiner.

Until 1714, he received instruction in Vienna from his father's guest Gottfried William Leibniz. The two obtained a travel scholarship for Joseph Emanuel from
Kaiser Karl VI. This led him in 1713/1714 to Italy, where he accompanied, among others, the well-known archaeologist Francesco de Ficoroni.

From 1717-1719, he was in France with the French court master-builder Robert de Cotte, the architect Germain Boffrand, and with the philologist Bernard de Montfaucon. He also spent time in Leyden and London, where he studied the re-invented "Feuermaschinen" and possibly also met Isaac Newton.

In 1722 he returned to Vienna. He sought and obtained, December 1722 a court architect position. After the death of his father 1723, Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt succeeded to the position of chief Court Architect. In 1725, Joseph Emanuel, succeeded in turn to this position, probably with the help of his powerful sponsor, Court Building director, count Gundaker von Althan, completing his father's unfinished projects. Though a successful architect in his own right, he was overshadowed by his more famous father.

In 1729, Joseph Emanuel was appointed Imperial Court Chamber Advisor. In the course of his work, he exercised his technical abilities and dedicated himself increasingly to building steam engines for mine excavation. For this work he was made Baron in 1735.

In 1727, he had married Maria Anna von Dietrich, with whom he had 7 children. He lived in the "Gerstenbrandische Haus" (Gerstenbrandi house) with the "Kärntner" gate. He had an important art collection and extensive library. His wife died in 1740. He died on June 29, 1742 in a house fire. He left an enormous fortune of 130,000 fl.

He continued some projects of his father, in particular the Karlskirche in Vienna,the "Hofbibliothek" (Imperial Library), and the "Winterreitschultrakt" of theHofburg. He was involved with the planning of the "Traktes" of the Hofburg for "Michaelerplatz", which only in the years 1889-1993 of Ferdinand Kirschner (with easy changes) was built, since the Hofburg theatre stood in the way. On the same plans, he based also Königliche library in Berlin, which from 1775 to 1780 was built by George Christian Unger. In 1728, he replaced Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt with the building the "Reichskanzleitraktes" of the Hofburg. Otherwise, few own works are secured - in addition, this has to do with unclear documents. Added to this are 1847 the Althan palace in Vienna on "Landstrasse", Corps de Logis Eckartsau Castle, and Thürnthal Castle at Fels am Wagram.

Impact

Contrary to his father's approach, the son thought in terms of facades, which are however different from those of Hildebrandt and his numerous successors and a perfect example of Western Europeanbaroque classicism: simple, rational and without effusive ornamentation.

Works

* Monumental Buildings:
** Plans to the "Michaelertrakt" in the Hofburg, 1726
** Execution of Kaiserlichen Court Library ("Hofbibliothek") in Vienna
** Winter riding school
** Reichskanzleitrakt of the Hofburg (Court Castle continuation after Hildebrandt)
** Completion of "Hofstallungen" Court stable buildings (today: Museum accommodation), 1725
** Transformation of the "Stift Klosterneuburg" (Klosterneuburg Monastery)

* Castles and Palaces:
** "Schloss Eckartsau" (Eckartsau Castle)
** Change of "Schloss Thürnthal", 1725 ( [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Thürnthal deutsch-link] )
** Change of "Schloss Kirchstetten" ( [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Kirchstetten deutsch-link] )
** Change of "Schloss Joslowitz" (Jaroslavice, Tschechien) ( [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Joslowitz deutsch-link] )
** Change of Austerlitz Palace (Slavkov u Brna, Tschechien)
** Change of "Schloss Seelowitz" (Tschechien) ( [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Seelowitz deutsch-link] )
** Change of "Schloss Frain" (Vranov nad Dyjí, Tschechien) ( [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Frain deutsch-link] )
** Althan Palace (garden palace)
** Completion Schwarzenberg Palace (baroque garden palace), 1728
** Change of Lamberg Palace, 1730
** Change of Lobkowitz Palace ( [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_Lobkowitz deutsch-link] )
** Planning of the Ritterakademie palace (knight academy) in Liegnitz
** Planning of the Bánffy Castle castle in Bonţida

* Sacred Buildings:
** Continuation of "Wiener Karlskirche" (Viennese Karl church)
** Parish church in Grossweikersdorf
** Reestablishment of the church and the yard of the parsonage in Šafov (Tschechien), 1745

* Other:
** Building Vermählungsbrunnen of Hoher Markt (high market) after plans of his father
** "Ehrentempel" Honour temples on "Wiener Graben"
** numerous monuments, gardens, tombs and altars.

Notes

References

* Justus Schmidt: "Fischer von Erlach der Jüngere" ("...the Younger"), from: Reports from the "Vereins für Geschichte der Stadt Wien" (Association for history of the city Vienna), Vienna, 1933.
* Thomas Zacharias: "Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach", Herold, Vienna, 1960.

Persondata
NAME= Erlach, Joseph Emanuel Fischer von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH=1693-09-13
PLACE OF BIRTH= Vienna
DATE OF DEATH=1742-06-29
PLACE OF DEATH= Vienna