Abraham van den Blocke
Encyclopedia
Abraham van den Blocke was an architect and sculptor.
Van den Blocke was born in Königsberg
(today Kaliningrad, Russia), presumably the oldest of seven children of Dorothea and Willem van den Blocke. In 1584 the family lived in Gdańsk
, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, where he was educated as a sculptor in his father's workshop. He moved to the Netherlands
for further studies in 1590-95 and became a citizen of Gdańsk in 1596. In 1597 van den Blocke became a master and established his own workshop in 1598.
In 1598-1611 he made a stone altar for the St. John's church and became a municipal architect in 1611. Van den Blocke built the Golden Tenement House in 1609, the Golden Gate
(1612-14) and made a front elevation of the Artushof (1616-1617). In 1606-1613 he made elements for the Neptune's well and built the Royal Granary for King Sigismund III Vasa
. He is the sculptor of several tombstones and epitaphs in St. Mary's Church
.
Van den Blocke died in Gdańsk.
Van den Blocke was born in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
(today Kaliningrad, Russia), presumably the oldest of seven children of Dorothea and Willem van den Blocke. In 1584 the family lived in Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, where he was educated as a sculptor in his father's workshop. He moved to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
for further studies in 1590-95 and became a citizen of Gdańsk in 1596. In 1597 van den Blocke became a master and established his own workshop in 1598.
In 1598-1611 he made a stone altar for the St. John's church and became a municipal architect in 1611. Van den Blocke built the Golden Tenement House in 1609, the Golden Gate
Golden Gate (Gdansk)
thumb|right|200px|Langgasser Thor in 1687Golden Gate in Gdańsk, Poland, German Langgasser Tor, is one of the most notable tourist attractions of the city.It was raised in 1612–14 in place of the 13th century gothic gate...
(1612-14) and made a front elevation of the Artushof (1616-1617). In 1606-1613 he made elements for the Neptune's well and built the Royal Granary for King Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
. He is the sculptor of several tombstones and epitaphs in St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church, Gdansk
St. Mary's Church or, properly, Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic church in Gdańsk, Poland, which is the largest brick church in the world. It was begun in 1379. St. Mary's Church (Polish: Bazylika Mariacka, German: Marienkirche) or, properly, Basilica of...
.
Van den Blocke died in Gdańsk.