Willem van den Blocke

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The High Gate in Danzig before the removal of the walls. Drawing by Julius Greth, 1855.

Willem van den Blocke (alternative names: Willem van den Block, Willem van den Bloocke, Wilhelm von dem Block, Wilhelm von dem Blocke, Wilhem van Block) (c. 1550 – 1628) was a sculptor and architect of

Baltics and worked in a mannerist
style.

Biography

He was born in Mechelen, the son of Franciscus van den Blocke, who was a sculptor.[1] Willem received his first training in the art of stone carving and sculpting in his father's workshop in Mechelen.[2] He then likely moved for further training to the workshop of Cornelis Floris de Vriendt in Antwerp.[3]

In 1569, he went to

Mennonites and were particularly vulnerable to such persecution in their home country.[2] In the Baltics, there was also less competition from other artists.[4]

In Konigsberg van den Blocke worked on the monumental tomb of

Albert, Duke in Prussia, designed by Floris, in the local cathedral. In 1581 he designed and executed the tomb of princess Elizabeth, the first wife of George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, also in the Königsberg Cathedral.[5]

Uppsala Cathedral, tomb of King John III of Sweden

After 14 years of service to the Margrave, he received a recommendation letter and then went to work in Poland. He received many commissions such as the design and execution of the tomb of Christopher Báthory, brother of the King of Poland Stephen Báthory.[5] He completed this commission from 1581 to 1583 in Wartenburg (Barczewo).[1]

In early 1584, he went to Gyulafehérvár in Transylvania to install in the local church a tomb he had created.

Willem van den Blocke moved on 18 June 1584 to

Elbing (Elbląg).[1]

His son Abraham van den Blocke was also an architect and sculptor,[6] whereas his sons Jacob van den Blocke, Isaak van den Blocke and David van den Blocke were painters.[1] Van den Blocke died in Danzig in the same year as his sons Abraham and Isaac, likely from an infectious disease.

Work

Willem van den Brocke is regarded as the main representative in the Baltics of Italianizing Flemish mannerism as developed first by Cornelis Floris. Although he designed many building ornaments, he is best known for his monuments. His monuments are characterized by their clarity and rich ornamentation. The deceased are presented realistically.[5]

Known works

Attributed Works (selection)

Mannerist crown most probably created for Stephen Báthory in Gdańsk after Willem van den Blocke]'s design in about 1584[7]

Epitaphs

  • Brandes family in the St. Mary's Church, Danzig, 1588
  • Christoph von Dohna in St. Canute's Cathedral in Odense in Denmark, 1586
  • Valentin Bodecker in the St. Nicholas Church in
    Elbing
    , 1587
  • Family Stroband in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Toruń, 1590

Tombs

Facades of houses

  • Home of the Danzig St. George Archers (late 16th century)
  • Esken house in Torun (1590)

References

  1. ^
    The Netherlands Institute for Art History
    (in Dutch)
  2. ^ a b V. Petkau, P. Block: Das Blockbuch. Selbstverlag, 2007 (in German)
  3. ^ Skibinski, F.J. 'Willem van den Blocke. Netherlandish sculptor in the Baltic Region'
  4. ^ a b C. Osiecki, 'Forgotten Netherlandish Artists in the Baltic Region: the migration of Dutch and Flemish sculptors to the Baltic region in the second half of the sixteenth century', CODART eZine 2, Spring 2013
  5. ^ a b c d Jerzy Kowalczyk and Bożena Steinborn. "Blocke van den." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 24 Jan. 2014
  6. ^ Biographical details of Abraham van den Blocke at the Netherlands Institute for Art History (in Dutch)
  7. ^ Marcin Latka. "Detail of portrait of Stephen Bathory". artinpl. Retrieved 28 July 2019.

External links