Ulrich Fürst

The Abbey Church in Kladruby and the Cathedral Church in Regensburg — Modes of Early Modern Renewal in a Comparative Perspective

This article compares two buildings that are not usually associated with each other, as one is primarily regarded as a major work of southern German cathedral Gothic and the other as a unique work of a Baroque genius. However, both buildings underwent radical renovations in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which differ significantly, but some of which show surprising parallels, which opens up interesting insights into the modes of preservation and transformation of medieval structures. The idea of supplementing a medieval basilica with a modern tambour dome in Gothic forms is the main connecting factor, whereby the respective motivation of the builders and the respective design concept should be analysed. Differences concern both the typology (new triconchos in Kladruby) and the handling of the old substance (execution of nave bays in Regensburg in the sense of Vitruvian conformitas; Baroque Gothic vaults in Kladruby based on late Gothic major works in the country). Various colour versions and the controversial question of the role of stonemasonry traditions are also discussed. The juxtaposition places Johann Blasius Santini, often seen as a singular phenomenon, in a larger context, while at the same time the Bavarian-Bohemian view opens up informative side views of comparable renovation projects in both regions. The processual nature of such renovations also comes to light in interesting variations. It also becomes clear that in the Baroque period, the use of forms that a history of style would identify as medieval often took account of genuinely early modern categories such as memoria or conformitas.

Author's email:

ulrich.fuerst@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54759/ART-2025-0306



< back