Christian Ackermann
Encyclopedia
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and carver
Wood carving
Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object...
who worked in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
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Life and work
Christian Ackermann was born in KönigsbergKönigsberg
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...
. He worked in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, and 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...
, before becoming active in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
from about 1672 until his death in 1710. In 1675, Ackermann moved to Tallinn and acquired his own workshop. He probably died either in 1710 or a short time later from plague.
Christian Ackermann was one of the greatest masters of the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style in Estonia. He brought strong Central European influences to Northeast Europe, in particular the motifs of the Baroque and masterful Acanthus ornaments
Acanthus (ornament)
The acanthus is one of the most common plant forms to make foliage ornament and decoration.-Architecture:In architecture, an ornament is carved into stone or wood to resemble leaves from the Mediterranean species of the Acanthus genus of plants, which have deeply cut leaves with some similarity to...
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Most important works
- BaptisteryBaptisteryIn Christian architecture the baptistry or baptistery is the separate centrally-planned structure surrounding the baptismal font. The baptistry may be incorporated within the body of a church or cathedral and be provided with an altar as a chapel...
for the Swedish St. Michael's Church in Tallinn (around 1680) - AltarpieceAltarpieceAn altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
for the church of Simuna (1684) - Altar and pulpit for the church of TüriTüriTüri is a town in Järva County, Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Türi Parish. Since 2000, Türi is known as the "spring capital" of Estonia.- History :*1347 Türi first mentioned in historical records by the name of Turgel...
(1693) - PulpitPulpitPulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
with figures of the apostles (1686) and altarpiece (1696) for St Mary's Cathedral of TallinnSt Mary's cathedral of TallinnSt Mary's Cathedral, Tallinn is a church located on Toompea Hill in Tallinn, Estonia. Originally established by Danes on 13th century, it is the oldest church in Tallinn and mainland Estonia... - Emblem for St Mary's Cathedral of Tallinn
- Clock for Holy Spirit Church in Tallinn
- Altar figures and altarpiece for the church of MartnaMartna ParishMartna is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Lääne County. It has a population of 996 and an area of 269 km².-Villages:Martna Parish has 33 villages:...
- Pulpit for the church of Juuru ParishJuuru ParishJuuru Parish is an Estonian municipality located in Rapla County. It has a population of 1627 and an area of 152,4 km².-Settlements:...
(1695) - Pulpit for the church of Karuse (1697)
- CrucifixCrucifixA crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
for the church of Koeru ParishKoeru Parish-Settlements:1 small borough: Koeru.26 villages: Abaja, Aruküla, Ervita, Jõeküla, Kalitsa, Kapu, Koidu-Ellavere, Kuusna, Laaneotsa, Liusvere, Merja, Norra, Preedi, Puhmu, Rõhu, Salutaguse, Santovi, Tammiku, Tudre, Udeva, Vahuküla, Väinjärve, Valila, Vao, Visusti and Vuti.-External links:...
(end of the 17th century)