Anton Pilgram | |
|---|---|
 Anton Pilgram – possible self-portrait. Relief in St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna. | |
| Born | 1460 (1460) Brno (?) |
| Died | 1516 (aged 55–56) Vienna (?) |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna St Jacob Church, Brno Old City Hall, Brno |
Anton Pilgram (alsoAnton Pilchramb) (around 1460,Brno (?) – 1516,Vienna) was a late medieval Moravian and subsequently Austrian architect and sculptor active in the area of today'sCzech Republic (Moravia),Austria and western (Germany)Swabia. Pilgram is known as the sculptor of theportal of Old City Hall and St. James church inBrno and craftsman of thepulpit inSt. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna. He spent a major part of his life in Brno,Moravia.
He was born in Brno and later on probably trained stonemason inVienna, and following that, in 1481, he was invited toHeilbronn. His earliest work was achancel at the St Kilian Church in Heilbronn. However, research by Kaliopi Chamonikola, 2004, disputes the attribution of the design of the chancel to Pilgram. He created his early architectural works mainly inSwabia, Germany. He participated in the building of the St. George Church inSchwieberdingen and St Lawrence Chapel inRottweil. During his stay in Swabia, he became familiar with the works of Italian and GermanRenaissance artists.[1]
He came back toBrno around 1495, and he worked there as a sculptor andstonemason at theSt Jacob Church and Judentor (Jews' Gate, 1508). Among his most important works are wooden sculptures ofSaint Peter Martyr and aDominicansaint, created around 1511, and particularly the portal of the Old City Hall (1512).
In 1512 Pilgram became a cathedral builder of theSt Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. There he concentrated mainly on smaller architectonic forms, such as the cathedral pulpit (built from 1514 to 1515) and various relief sculptures. Pilgram probably died in Vienna around 1516.
Anton Pilgram is considered to be one of the most talented descendants ofNikolaus Gerhaert of Leiden inMiddle Europe. His figural sculptures express a high level of individuality, and are not entirely within medieval artistic expression. Czech art historianAlbert Kutal indicated also possible influence of northItalian Renaissance sculpture and paintings byAndrea Mantegna.According to preserved historical documents, Pilgram was a self-confident and contentious artist, who often asserted his artistic individuality against the will of guilds and other institutions.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
