Architekci, budowniczowie, kamieniarze i rzeźbiarze obcego pochodzenia w Gdańsku 1550-1630. Szkic z dziejów migracji artystycznej.

• Authors: Skibiński Franciszek

Title variants

EN

Architects, Builders, Stonemasons, and Sculptors of Foreign Descent in Gdansk in 1550-1630. An Overview of the History of Artistic Migration

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

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 integration of the immigrants, and their contribution to the transformation taking place in the art and architecture 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 of the 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 community. The artistic exchange was prompted by, among others, the movement of journeymen 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 cooperation 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 of the 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.

Keywords

EN

Sixteenth-century Gdansk; Artistic Migration; Architects; Builders; Stonemasons; Sculptors; Hans Kramer; Hans Schneirder von Lindau; 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; Willem van den Blocke from Mechelen

• Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk. Instytut Sztuki PAN
• Journal: Biuletyn Historii Sztuki
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 77
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-35

Contributors

author

Skibiński Franciszek

• Wydział Sztuk Pieknych UMK Toruń