Benedikt Rejt
Encyclopedia
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, today's Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. He built Vladislav Hall
Vladislav Hall
Vladislav Hall is a large room within the Prague Castle complex in the Czech Republic, used for large public events of the Bohemian monarchy and the modern Czech state...
(1497–1500) in Prague Castle
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is a castle in Prague where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here...
, St. Barbara's Church, Kutna Hora, (c. 1482) and other buildings in Late Gothic style.
Historical context
Bohemia became the cultural center of Central Europe when Charles IVCharles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
brought the German Emperor's court to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in the 14th century. The Royal Court Workshop under the guidance of Peter Parler
Peter Parler
Peter Parler, , Schwäbisch Gmünd – July 13, 1399, Prague) was a German architect, best known for building Saint Vitus Cathedral and Charles Bridge in Prague, where he lived from about 1356....
was one of the highlights of Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. The Hussite Wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
then stopped all plans for cultural development in the region for many decades. When Bohemia was again open to Europe after 1480, during the reign of Vladislav Jagellonský, good architects were in great demand and the king as well as Bohemian noblemen (the House of Rosenberg
House of Rosenberg
The Rosenberg family was the most significant and influential Bohemian noble family playing important role in Czech medieval history from 13th century till 1611...
being among the richest) searched the surrounding workshops especially in Danubian
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
countries for a master-builder to realize their projects. The king had a great challenge in the court of Meissen
Meissen
Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...
where Albert III, Duke of Saxony started building Albrechtsburg
Albrechtsburg
The Albrechtsburg is a Late Gothic castle that dominates the town centre of Meissen in the German state of Saxony.-History:By 929 King Henry I of Germany had finally subdued the Slavic Glomacze tribe and built a fortress within their settlement area, situated on a rock high above the Elbe river...
in 1471.
Life
There is little information about Benedikt Rejt from historical sources. The dates of birth and death are unclear as well as the place of origin or early life activity (Mencl guesses the river Inn, probably BurghausenBurghausen, Altötting
Burghausen is the largest city in the Altötting district of Oberbayern in Germany. It is situated on the Salzach river, near the border with Austria. Its castle, atop a ridge, is the longest castle in Europe .- History :...
). All the knowledge of his life comes from a few documents, especially those of a judicial character. From these sources it is obvious that Benedikt Rejt was a renowned architect and baumeister (master builder) whose opinion was highly valued at court where he was called to review work of other contemporary architects. As early as 1489 (when he was asked to review the work of Matěj Rejsek
Matej Rejsek
Matěj Rejsek was a famous Czech gothic architect, scholar, and philosopher. He is also known as Matyáš Rejsek.There is probably incorrect year of born 1449 on his memorial plaque in Prostějov.Works:...
) he was thus considered an authority in the field of architecture which supports the surmise that he had created some of the masterpieces which had been built before that year with unclear authorship. In addition, Prague, Most
Most
Most is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Czech Central Mountains and the Ore Mountains, approximately northwest of Prague along the Bílina River and southwest of Ústí nad Labem.-Etymology:...
, Kutná Hora and Annaberg
Annaberg
Annaberg is a former district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It was bounded by the Czech Republic and the districts of Aue-Schwarzenberg, Stollberg and Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis. Its national colors are pink, green, and blue.- History :In the Middle Ages the Ore Mountains were virtually...
(the latter two then silver-mining centres) were among the richest cities of Central Europe and it is likely that only the best architects were invited to work there. After 1500 he was often referred to as Master Benedikt and a Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
architect and stonemason hired by the crown. There is also a theory that Benedikt Rejt can be identified with Benedykt Sandomierski
Benedykt from Sandomierz
Benedykt from Sandomierz Polish renaissance architect, who together with Bartolommeo Berrecci rebuilt the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków under the rule of Sigismund I of Poland after it burnt down in 1499....
who rebuilt Piotrków Trybunalski Castle
Piotrków Trybunalski Castle
The Piotrków Trybunalski Royal Castle is a Gothic-Renaissance structure in Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland. It was built in the form of a residential tower in the 16th century and was transformed into a museum open to the public in 1919.-History:...
(1519) and other buildings in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(Borowska 2004). In 1518 Benedikt Rejt was a chairman and key participant at the congress of architects and stonemasons from all of Central Europe in Annaberg, Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. Many hints in historical sources are disputable. According to some of them Benedikt came to Prague as a military engineer to rebuild the Prague Castle fortification (he may have built the walls of the castles Rabí and Švihov
Švihov (Klatovy District)
Švihov is a town in west part of the Czech Republic. Gothic Švihov castle is main target of tourism in region.-External links:*...
as well). He then became famous especially for his skills in the art of Late Gothic vaults in which he reached one of the peaks in all medieval architecture. Earlier he was considered an inventor of the tent roof of cathedrals (now typical for churches in Kutná Hora and Louny), but it has been discovered from medieval pictures that their use was more common, and Rejt was probably not an exclusive builder of them. His direct pupil was Jacob Haylmann von Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
who worked with him in Kutná Hora and Annaberg.
Prague Castle
Vladislav HallVladislav Hall
Vladislav Hall is a large room within the Prague Castle complex in the Czech Republic, used for large public events of the Bohemian monarchy and the modern Czech state...
, the largest medieval vaulted secular room in Europe, completed in 1500
Ludvík Wing (Louis Palace), considered the first Renaissance building in Bohemia (with examples in Italy
Italian Gothic architecture
The Gothic architecture appeared in Italy in the 12th century. Italian Gothic always maintained peculiar characteristic which differentiated its evolution from that in France, where it had originated, and in other European countries...
), later the place of the Second Defenestration of Prague
Defenestrations of Prague
The Defenestrations of Prague were two incidents in the history of Bohemia. The first occurred in 1419 and the second in 1618, although the term "Defenestration of Prague" more commonly refers to the latter incident. Both helped to trigger prolonged conflict within Bohemia and beyond...
Knight's Stairway with an original vault arrangement
Fortification with the towers of Mihulka and Daliborka (the jail of Bedřich Smetana
Bedrich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...
's opera Dalibor)
Plans for completing St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral
Saint Vitus' Cathedral is as a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral...
, begun but discontinued
Bohemia
St. Barbara's Church in Kutná HoraKutná Hora
Kutná Hora is a city in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic in the Central Bohemian Region.-History:The town began in 1142 with the settlement of the first Cistercian Monastery in Bohemia, Kloster Sedlitz, brought from the Imperial immediate Cistercian Waldsassen Abbey...
, from 1512 onward on the aisle and vault supervised by Jacob Haylmann von Schweinfurt and a Hans, after Rejt's death by Master Mikuláš and Jan Vlach, tent roof realized by Master Vaněk; restored in 1884–93 by Josef Mocker
Josef Mocker
Josef Mocker was a Bohemian architect and restorer who worked in a purist Gothic Revival style.- Overview :...
and Ludvík Lábler
St. Nicolas Church
St. Nicolas Church in Louny
St. Nicolas Church in Louny is a roman-catholic, parochial church dedicated to Saint Nicolas, located in Louny, Czech Republic....
in Louny
Louny
Louny is a town in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It is situated on the River Ohře.-History:The city was founded in the 12th century . The Church of St Peter stands on the site of the original fort...
, from 1519 supervised by Pavel of Pardubice
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
and Filip of Wimpfen
Bad Wimpfen
Bad Wimpfen is an historic spa town in the district of Heilbronn in the Baden-Württemberg region of southern Germany. It lies north of the city of Heilbronn, on the river Neckar.-Geography:...
, probably Rejt's disciples; restored in 1885–92 by Josef Mocker and 1898–1902 by Kamil Hilbert
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Most
Most
Most is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Czech Central Mountains and the Ore Mountains, approximately northwest of Prague along the Bílina River and southwest of Ústí nad Labem.-Etymology:...
, mentions of Jörg of Maulbronn
Maulbronn
Maulbronn is a city in the district of Enz in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.-History:Founded in 1838, it emerged from a settlement, built around a monastery, which belonged to the Neckar Community in the Kingdom of Württemberg. In 1886, Maulbronn officially became a German town and was an...
; restored in 1882; moved 841m to to make room for the expanding lignite
Lignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
mines in 1975
Villa in Stromovka (Bubeneč)
Outside Bohemia
St. Anne's ChurchSt. Anne's Church, Annaberg-Buchholz
St. Anne's Church in Annaberg-Buchholz is a hall church on the threshold between Late Gothic and Renaissance and with a length of 65 metres and width of 40 metres, the largest, proper hall church of the Late Gothic in Saxony. Its tower is 78 metres high, the interior of the church...
in Annaberg
Annaberg-Buchholz
Annaberg-Buchholz is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, in the Erzgebirge, capital of the district Erzgebirgskreis.The town is located in the Ore Mountains, at the side of the Pöhlberg . It has three Protestant churches, among them that of St...
Castle in Ząbkowice Śląskie
Zabkowice Slaskie
Ząbkowice Śląskie is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Ząbkowice Śląskie County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Ząbkowice Śląskie....
(Frankenstein), for Münsterberg nobility from 1524 onward
Buildings usually assigned to Johannes Spiess (Hans, Hanuš)
Royal Oratory in St. Vitus CathedralSt. Vitus Cathedral
Saint Vitus' Cathedral is as a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral...
Vladislav bedroom in Old Palace of Prague Castle
Parts of St. Peter and Paul's Church in Mělník
Melnik
-Places:Bulgaria* Melnik, Bulgaria, a town in Bulgaria* Shiroka Melnishka Losa, a Bulgarian wine grape also known as MelnikCzech Republic* Mělník, a townUnited States* Melnik, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community...
Palace, chapel and other rooms in Křivoklát Castle
Krivoklát Castle
Křivoklát Castle can be found in Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic.Křivoklát was founded during 12th century and belonged to Bohemain kings. During the reign of Přemysl Otakar II a large, monumental royal castle was built, later rebuilt by king Václav IV and later enlarged by king...
Property of Půta Švihovský z Riesenburka
Švihov CastleŠvihov (Klatovy District)
Švihov is a town in west part of the Czech Republic. Gothic Švihov castle is main target of tourism in region.-External links:*...
, in 1505 fortification system of the moated
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
castle
Rabí Castle, fortification system of one of the largest castles in Bohemia
Property of Zdeněk Lev z Rožmitálu
Palace of Zdeněk Lev z RožmitáluLeo of Rozmital
Zdeniek Lev Lord of Rosental aka Zdeniek Lev von Rosental was a Bohemian noble, royal ambassador, judge and the Highest Burgrave of Prague....
in Hradčany
Hradcany
Hradčany , the Castle District, is the district of the city of Prague, Czech Republic, surrounding the Prague Castle.The castle is said to be the biggest castle in the world at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide. Its history stretches back to the 9th century...
Blatná Castle
Blatná
Blatná is a small town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, with a water castle in the center of an artificial lake and a landscape garden around it...
, 1523–1530
Others
Virgin Mary Chapel (donated by Viktorin Špulíř) in the Church of the Assumption in Jindřichův HradecJindrichuv Hradec
Jindřichův Hradec is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 22,700 inhabitants.- History :The first written mention of the town is in 1220. Before that, it was probably a Slavic settlement. At the end of the 12th century more people arrived...
, completed in 1506
Virgin Mary Chapel on Náměť in Kutná Hora, the burial place of Petr Brandl
Petr Brandl
Petr Brandl was a painter of the late Baroque, famous in his time but - due to isolation behind the Iron Curtain - rather forgotten until recently. He was of German-speaking Austrian descent in the bilingual kingdom of Bohemia...
– assigned to Master Blažek from Kutná Hora
The vault of the Church of the Assumption in Ústí nad Labem
Ústí nad Labem
Ústí nad Labem is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Ústí nad Labem Region. The city is the 7th-most populous in the country.Ústí is situated in a mountainous district at the confluence of the Bílina and the Elbe Rivers, and, besides being an active river port, is an important railway junction...
, damaged in WWII
The castle in Březnice
Breznice
Březnice is name of several locations in the Czech Republic:* Březnice , a town in Příbram District in the Central Bohemian Region...
, fortification after 1531
Beneš of Louny
In the 19th century Czech patriots made efforts to claim that Benedikt Rejt had Czech or Bohemian origin. In many sources from that time he is referred to under the name Beneš z Loun (Beneš of Louny) – e.g. in the Hall of Fame in the 1891 building of National Museum in PragueNational Museum (Prague)
The National museum is a Czech museum institution intended to systematically establish, prepare and publicly exhibit natural scientific and historical collections. It was founded 1818 in Prague by Kašpar Maria Šternberg...
. According to tradition he was buried in St. Nicolas Church in Louny. In 1906 Zikmund Winter concluded the discussion with convincing evidence that Benedikt was of German origin and learnt Czech as fluently as German, as he could be considered Czech (his offspring identified with Czech nationality).