Philip de Lange
Encyclopedia
Philip de Lange was a leading Dutch-Danish architect who designed many different types of building in various styles including Dutch Baroque and Rococo
.
and was trained as a mason in the Netherlands
. He arrived in Copenhagen
, Denmark
, in 1729 where he quickly gained a reputation as an architect and master builder.
De Lange married twice: first with Jacomine Pieters in the Hague
(1724), then with Anna Lucia Ehlers in Copenhagen (1738).
The Dutch Baroque influence in his early work can, for example, be seen in the premises he built for Ziegler, the pastry cook, at Nybrogade 12 (1732). While initially he appears to have been struck by Ewert Janssen
's earlier work, he soon seems to have been influenced by Elias Häusser
and Lauritz de Thurah
.
Like Krieger
, he participated strongly in creating fine bourgeois dwellings in Copenhagen, especially the gabled houses on Kobmagergade.
His most notable achievements include the Headquarters of the Asiatic Company
in Christianshavn
(1739), the Masting Crane
on Holmen
(1750) and Stephen Hansen's Mansion in Helsingør (1763). He also adapted Glorup Manor
on Funen
to the Baroque style adding a magnificent mansard roof (1744).
For almost 30 years, de Lange was the leading master builder at the Holmen Naval Station
. Among other things, he constructed 24 Nyboder
two-storey houses from 1754 to 1756.
De Lange is remembered above all for his fine, simple buildings in the classical Rococo style. A good example is Damsholte Church
on the island of Møn
, the only Rococo village church in Denmark.
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
.
Early life and family
Philip de Lange was probably born near StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
and was trained as a mason in 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...
. He arrived in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, in 1729 where he quickly gained a reputation as an architect and master builder.
De Lange married twice: first with Jacomine Pieters in the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
(1724), then with Anna Lucia Ehlers in Copenhagen (1738).
Achievements
De Lange created a large number of works of various types including civil and military buildings, mansions, country houses, warehouses, factories, churches and parks.The Dutch Baroque influence in his early work can, for example, be seen in the premises he built for Ziegler, the pastry cook, at Nybrogade 12 (1732). While initially he appears to have been struck by Ewert Janssen
Ewert Janssen
Ewert Janssen or Evert Janssen was a Danish architect who became a royal masterbuilder in 1668. His greatest achievement was Charlottenborg Palace in Copenhagen.-Life and achievements:...
's earlier work, he soon seems to have been influenced by Elias Häusser
Elias David Häusser
Elias David Häusser was a German-Danish architect working in the Baroque and Rococo styles. He is most known for designing the first Christiansborg Palace which was almost completely destroyed in a fire in 1794...
and Lauritz de Thurah
Lauritz de Thurah
Laurids Lauridsen de Thurah, known as Lauritz de Thurah , was a Danish architect and architectural writer. He became the most important Danish architect of the late baroque period...
.
Like Krieger
Johan Cornelius Krieger
Johan Cornelius Krieger was a Danish architect and landscape architect, who from the 1720s served as both the country's chief architect, and head of the royal gardens....
, he participated strongly in creating fine bourgeois dwellings in Copenhagen, especially the gabled houses on Kobmagergade.
His most notable achievements include the Headquarters of the Asiatic Company
Danish East India Company
The Danish East India Company was a Danish chartered company.-History:It was founded in 1616, following a privilege of Danish King Christian IV....
in Christianshavn
Christianshavn
Christianshavn is an artificial island neighbourhood located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in the early 17th century by Christian IV as part of his extension of the fortifications of Copenhagen. Originally it was laid out as an independent privileged merchant's town with inspiration from...
(1739), the Masting Crane
Mastekranen
Mastekranen is an 18th-century masting sheer and present landmark on Holmen in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was designed by architect Philip de Lange and built in 1748–51 as part of the Royal Naval Shipyard at Holmen.-History:...
on Holmen
Holmen
Holmen is a Swedish company which bases its business in the pulp and paper industry. Holmen's main products are newsprint and magazine paper for newspapers, magazines, directories and advertising prints...
(1750) and Stephen Hansen's Mansion in Helsingør (1763). He also adapted Glorup Manor
Glorup Manor
Glorup is a manor house located between Nyborg and Svendborg in the south-east of the Danish island Funen. Rebuilt to the design of Nicolas-Henri Jardin and his pupil Christian Josef Zuber in 1763-65, it is considered one of the finest Baroque complexes in Denmark.-Early history:Glorup is first...
on Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
to the Baroque style adding a magnificent mansard roof (1744).
For almost 30 years, de Lange was the leading master builder at the Holmen Naval Station
Holmen naval base
Naval Station Holmen is one of several naval stations of the Royal Danish Navy, supplementing the two Danish naval bases in Frederikshavn and Korsør....
. Among other things, he constructed 24 Nyboder
Nyboder
Nyboder is a historic row house district of former Naval barracks in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was planned and first built by Christian IV to accommodate a need for housing for the personnel of the rapidly growing Royal Danish Navy and their families during that time...
two-storey houses from 1754 to 1756.
De Lange is remembered above all for his fine, simple buildings in the classical Rococo style. A good example is Damsholte Church
Damsholte Church
Damsholte Church, located in the village of Damsholte on the island of Møn in southeastern Denmark, is the only village church in the country built in the Rococo style. It is considered to be one of Denmark's finest Rococo buildings.-History:...
on the island of Møn
Møn
-Location:Møn is located just off the south-eastern tip of Zealand from which it is separated by the waters of the Hølen strait between Kalvehave and the island of Nyord, at the northern end of Møn. Further south is Stege Bugt...
, the only Rococo village church in Denmark.