Johann Balthasar Neumann

Audio|Johann_Balthasar_Neumann.ogg|Johann Balthasar Neumann (January 27, 1687 - August 19, 1753) was a German military engineer and architect who developed a refined brand of Baroque architecture, fusing Austrian, Bohemian, Italian, and French elements to design some of the most impressive buildings of the period, including the Würzburg Residence and the Basilica of the Vierzehnheiligen.

The Würzburg Residence is considered one of the most beautiful and well proportioned palace in Europe and the Basilica of the Vierzehnheiligen is considered by some as the crowning work of the period.

His final work is the Church of the Visitation of Mary, a masterpiece of the Baroque style located near Eltmann am Main.

Neumann was born in Eger (Cheb), Bohemia. He moved to Würzburg in 1711 and found a patron in the Schönborn family in 1717. He was responsible for all building projects of the Schonborn prince-bishop of Würzburg. He died in Würzburg, Germany.

A picture of him could be seen on the former 50-DM note together with the famous staircase located in the Residenz of Würzburg. Neumann was also depicted by Tiepolo in his frescoes for the Residenz, in pseudo-military uniform, leaning over a cannon. He had boasted that the ceiling was so well constructed that not even the roar of cannon would make the roof fall [http://worldheritage.heindorffhus.dk/frame-GermanyWuerzburg.htm] .

External links

* [http://www.bookrags.com/biography/balthasar-neumann/ Encyclopedia of World Biography]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10773a.htm Johann Balthasar Neumann] - Catholic Encyclopedia article