The Waldsassen Basilica , Mariä Himmelfahrt und St. Johannes Evangelist ( Assumption of Mary and St. John the Evangelist ) is the parish church in Waldsassen , Bavaria. It was built in its present form from 1685 to 1704 as part of the Waldsassen Abbey . With the secularization in 1803, the Cistercian abbey church became the Catholic parish church. In 1969, Pope Paul VI made it a papal basilica minor . The basilica is known for its display of jewelled skeletons.
48-468: The building was designed as an abbey church by Georg Dientzenhofer and Abraham Leuthner in the Baroque style of Bavaria known as "böhmischer Hochbarock mit italienischer Prägung" (Bohemian high Baroque with Italian flavour). It was built from 1685 to 1704. The church has a total length of 82 meters (269 ft). The nave has chapels and galleries on either side. The choir has decorative choir stalls. Under
96-422: A belfry , belvedere , or roof lantern above a main roof. In other cases they may crown a spire , tower , or turret . Barns often have cupolas for ventilation. Cupolas can also appear as small buildings in their own right. The square, dome-like segment of a North American railroad train caboose that contains the second-level or "angel" seats is also called a cupola. The term cupola can also refer to
144-445: A cupola ( / ˈ k ( j ) uː p ə l ə / ) is a relatively small, usually dome -like structure on top of a building often crowning a larger roof or dome. Cupolas often serve as a roof lantern to admit light and air or as a lookout. The word derives, via Italian , from lower Latin cupula (classical Latin cupella ), from Ancient Greek κύπελλον ( kúpellon ) 'small cup' (Latin cupa ), indicating
192-499: A central element. The Early Baroque (1584–1625) was largely dominated by the work of Roman architects, notably the Church of the Gesù by Giacomo della Porta (consecrated 1584) façade and colonnade of St. Peter's Basilica by Carlo Maderno (completed 1612) and the lavish Barberini Palace interiors by Pietro da Cortona (1633–1639), and Santa Susanna (1603), by Carlo Maderno. In France,
240-519: A design. Beginning in 1664, Bernini proposed several Baroque variants, but in the end the King selected a design by a French architect, Charles Perrault , in a more classical variant of Baroque. This gradually became the Louis XIV style . Louis was soon engaged in an even larger project, the construction of the new Palace of Versailles . The architects chosen were Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin-Mansart , and
288-406: A lavish exterior contrasting with a relatively simple interior and multiple spaces. They carefully planned lighting in the interior to give an impression of mystery. Early 18th century, Notable Spanish examples included the new west façade of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral , (1738–50), with its spectacular towers, by Fernando de Casas Novoa . In Seville , Leonardo de Figueroa was the creator of
336-524: A vault resembling an upside-down cup. The cylindrical drum underneath a larger cupola is called a tholobate . The cupola evolved during the Renaissance from the older oculus . Being weatherproof, the cupola was better suited to the wetter climates of northern Europe. The chhatri , seen in Indian architecture , fits the definition of a cupola when it is used atop a larger structure. Cupolas often serve as
384-463: A wide popular audience. One of the first Baroque architects, Carlo Maderno , used Baroque effects of space and perspective in the new façade and colonnade of Saint Peter's Basilica , which was designed to contrast with and complement the gigantic dome built earlier by Michelangelo . Other influential early examples in Rome included the Church of the Gesù by Giacomo della Porta (consecrated 1584), with
432-729: Is San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico. A notable example in Brazil is the São Bento Monastery in Rio de Janeiro . begun in 1617, with additional decoration after 1668. The Metropolitan Tabernacle the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral , to the right of the main cathedral, built by Lorenzo Rodríguez between 1749 and 1760, to house the archives and vestments of the archbishop, and to receive visitors. Portuguese colonial architecture
480-713: Is a highly decorative and theatrical style which appeared in Italy in the late 16th century and gradually spread across Europe. It was originally introduced by the Catholic Church , particularly by the Jesuits , as a means to combat the Reformation and the Protestant church with a new architecture that inspired surprise and awe. It reached its peak in the High Baroque (1625–1675), when it
528-701: The Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and the Wurzburg Residence (1749–51). These works were among the final expressions of the Rococo or the Late Baroque. By the early 18th century, Baroque buildings could be found in all parts of Italy, often with regional variations. Notable examples included the Basilica of Superga , overlooking Turin , by Filippo Juvarra (1717–1731), which was later used as model for
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#1733106537674576-527: The Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and the Würzburg Residence (1749–51). Baroque architecture first appeared in the late 16th and early 17th century in religious architecture in Rome as a means to counter the popular appeal of the Protestant Reformation . It was a reaction against the more severe and academic earlier style of earlier churches, it aimed to inspire the common people with
624-656: The Church of Saint Augustine, Antwerp . Other churches are for example the St. Charles Borromeo Church, Antwerp (1615-1621) and the St. Walburga Church (Bruges) (1619-1641), both built by Pieter Huyssens . Later, secular buildings, such as the Guildhalls on the Grand-Place in Brussels and several Belfries , were constructed too. The first example of early Baroque in Central Europe
672-851: The Churrigueresque style. The Baroque style was imported into Latin America in the 17th century by the Spanish and the Portuguese, particularly by the Jesuits for the construction of churches. The style was sometimes called Churrigueresque , after the family of Baroque architects in Salamanca . A particularly fine example is Zacatecas Cathedral in Zacatecas City , in north-central Mexico, with its lavishly sculpted façade and twin bell towers. Another important example
720-516: The Luxembourg Palace (1615–1624) by architect Salomon de Brosse , and for a new wing of the Château of Blois by François Mansard (1635–38). Nicolas Fouquet , the superintendent of finances for the young King Louis XIV , chose the new style for his château at Vaux-le-Vicomte (1612–1670) by Louis Le Vau . He was later imprisoned by the King because of the extravagant cost of the palace. In
768-591: The Luxembourg Palace (1615–45) built by Salomon de Brosse for Marie de' Medici was an early example of the style. The High Baroque (1625–1675) produced major works in Rome by Pietro da Cortona, including the (Church of Santi Luca e Martina ) (1635–50); by Francesco Borromini ( San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (1634–1646)); and by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (The colonnade of St. Peter's Square ) (1656–57). In Venice , High Baroque works included Santa Maria della Salute by Baldassare Longhena . Examples in France included
816-659: The Palacio de San Telmo , with a façade inspired by the Italian Baroque. The most ornate works of the Spanish Baroque were made by Jose Benito de Churriguera in Madrid and Salamanca. In his work, the buildings are nearly overwhelmed by the ornament of gilded wood, gigantic twisting columns, and sculpted vegetation. His two brothers, Joaquin and Alberto, also made important, if less ornamented, contributions to what became known simply as
864-757: The Panthéon in Paris. The Stupinigi Palace (1729–31) was a hunting lodge and one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy near Turin. It was also built Filippo Juvarra . The Late Baroque period in France saw the evolving decoration of the Palace of Versailles , including the Hall of Mirrors and the Chapel . Later in the period, during the reign of Louis XV , a new, more ornate variant,
912-700: The Pavillon de l’Horloge of the Louvre Palace by Jacques Lemercier (1624–1645), the Chapel of the Sorbonne by Jacques Lemercier (1626–35) and the Château de Maisons by François Mansart (1630–1651). The Late Baroque (1675–1750) saw the style spread to all parts of Europe, and to the colonies of Spain and Portugal in the New World. National styles became more varied and distinct. The Late Baroque in France, under Louis XIV ,
960-663: The Rocaille style, or French Rococo, appeared in Paris and flourished between about 1723 and 1759. The most prominent example was the salon of the Princess in Hôtel de Soubise in Paris, designed by Germain Boffrand and Charles-Joseph Natoire (1735–40). Christopher Wren was the leading figure of the late Baroque in England, with his reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral (1675–1711) inspired by
1008-746: The Southern Netherlands , the Baroque architecture was introduced by the Catholic Church in the context of the Counter-Reformation and the Eighty Years' War . After the separation of the Netherlands Baroque churches were set up across the country. One of the first architects was Wenceslas Cobergher (1560-1634), who built the Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel from 1609 until 1627 and
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#17331065376741056-529: The Italian Jesuit architect Giovanni Maria Bernardoni . Pope Urban VIII , who occupied the Papacy from 1623 to 1644, became the most influential patron of the Baroque style. After the death of Carlo Maderno in 1629, Urban named the architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini as the chief Papal architect. Bernini created not only Baroque buildings, but also Baroque interiors, squares and fountains, transforming
1104-477: The King, in charge of all royal architectural projects. The Académie royale d'architecture was founded in 1671, with the mission of making Paris, not Rome, the artistic and architectural model for the world. The first architectural project of Louis XIV was a proposed reconstruction of the façade of the east wing of the Louvre Palace. Bernini , then Europe's most famous architect, was summoned to Paris to submit
1152-578: The architect Jacques Lemercier to Rome between 1607 and 1614 to study the new style. On his return to France, he designed the Pavillon de l’Horloge of the Louvre Palace (beginning 1626), and, more importantly, the Sorbonne Chapel , the first church dome in Paris. It was designed in 1626, and construction began in 1635. The next important French Baroque project was a much larger dome for the church of Val-de-Grâce begun in 1645 by Lemercier and François Mansart , and finished in 1715. A third Baroque dome
1200-618: The center of Rome into an enormous theater. Bernini rebuilt the Church of Santa Bibiana and the Church of San Sebastiano al Palatino on the Palatine Hill into Baroque landmarks, planned the Fontana del Tritone in the Piazza Barberini , and created the soaring baldacchino as the centerpiece of St Peter's Basilica . The High Baroque spread gradually across Italy, beyond Rome. The period saw
1248-527: The church worship services, concerts are regularly held. On 4 and 5 April 1990, Unitel visited the basilica to film Leonard Bernstein conducting three pieces of sacred music by Mozart - his Great Mass in C minor , his Exsultate, jubilate and his Ave verum corpus . An 86-minute DVD of the film was released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2006. 50°0′14″N 12°18′34″E / 50.00389°N 12.30944°E / 50.00389; 12.30944 Baroque architecture Baroque architecture
1296-558: The colonies of Spain and Portugal in the New World and the Philippines. It often took different names, and the regional variations became more distinct. A particularly ornate variant appeared in the early 18th century, called Rocaille in France and Rococo in Spain and Central Europe. The sculpted and painted decoration covering every space on the walls and ceiling. The most prominent architects of this style included Balthasar Neumann , noted for
1344-574: The construction of Santa Maria della Salute by Baldassare Longhena in Venice (1630–31). Churches were not the only buildings to use the Baroque style. One of the finest monuments of the early Baroque is the Barberini Palace (1626–1629), the residence of the family of Urban VIII, begun by Carlo Maderno, and completed and decorated by Bernini and Francesco Borromini . The outside of the Pope's family residence,
1392-501: The effects of surprise, emotion and awe. To achieve this, it used a combination of contrast, movement, trompe-l'œil and other dramatic and theatrical effects, such as quadratura —the use of painted ceilings that gave the illusion that one was looking up directly at the sky. The new style was particularly favored by the new religious orders, including the Theatines and the Jesuits , who built new churches designed to attract and inspire
1440-468: The façades of the new palace were constructed around the earlier Marble Court between 1668 and 1678. The Baroque grandeur of Versailles, particularly the façade facing the garden and the Hall of Mirrors by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, became models for other palaces across Europe. During the period of the Late Baroque (1675–1750), the style appeared across Europe, from England and France to Central Europe and Russia, from Spain and Portugal to Scandinavia, and in
1488-439: The first Baroque façade and a highly ornate interior, and Santa Susanna (1603), by Carlo Maderno. The Jesuits soon imported the style to Paris. The Church of St-Gervais-et-St-Protais in Paris (1615–1621) had the first Baroque façade in France, featuring, like the Italian Baroque façades, the three superimposed classical orders. The Italian style of palaces was also imported to Paris by Marie de' Medici for her new residence,
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1536-633: The first half of the 18th century a distinctive Vilnian Baroque architectural style of the Late Baroque was formed in capital Vilnius (in which architecture was taught at Vilnius Jesuit Academy , Jesuits colleges , Dominican schools ) and spread throughout Lithuania. The most distinctive features of churches built in the Vilnian Baroque style are very tall and slender towers of the main façades with differently decorated compartments, undulation of cornices and walls, decorativeness in bright colors, and multi-colored marble and stucco altars in
1584-725: The interiors. The Lithuanian nobility funded renovations and constructions of Late Baroque churches, monasteries (e.g. Pažaislis Monastery ) and their personal palaces (e.g. Sapieha Palace , Slushko Palace , Minor Radvilos Palace ). Notable architects who built buildings in a Late Baroque style in Lithuania are Johann Christoph Glaubitz , Thomas Zebrowski , Pietro Perti (cooperated with painters Michelangelo Palloni , Giovanni Maria Galli ), Giambattista Frediani, Pietro Puttini, Carlo Puttini, Jan Zaor , G. Lenkiewicz, Abraham Würtzner, Jan Valentinus Tobias Dyderszteyn, P. I. Hofer, Paolo Fontana [ it ] , etc. Many of
1632-487: The landmarks of the high Baroque. Another important monument of the period was the Church of Santi Luca e Martina in Rome by Pietro da Cortona (1635–50), in the form of a Greek cross with an elegant dome. After the death or Urban VIII and the brief reign of his successor, the Papacy of Pope Alexander VII from 1666 until 1667 saw more construction of Baroque churches, squares and fountains in Rome by Carlo Rainaldi , Bernini and Carlo Fontana . King Louis XIII had sent
1680-469: The largest such display in Europe. The skeletons were removed from the catacombs of Rome and were ornamented by Adalbart Eder, a Cistercian lay brother and skilled goldsmith, in the 18th century. It was believed at the time that clairvoyant priests could, through prayer, determine the identities of these skeletal remains. The main organ was built in 1738 by Johann Konrad Brandenstein . From 1975 to 1976, E. Pfaff
1728-401: The leading Baroque architect was Christoph Dientzenhofer , whose building featured complex curves and counter-curves and elliptical forms, making Prague , like Vienna, a capital of the late Baroque. Political and economic crises in the 17th century largely delayed the arrival of the Baroque in Spain until the late period, though the Jesuits strongly promoted it. Its early characteristics were
1776-529: The model of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, his plan for Greenwich Hospital (begun 1695), and Hampton Court Palace (1690–96). Other British figures of the late Baroque included Inigo Jones for Wilton House (1632–1647 and two pupils of Wren, John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor , for Castle Howard (1699–1712) and Blenheim Palace (1705–1724). In the 17th century Late Baroque style buildings in Lithuania were built in an Italian Baroque style , however in
1824-739: The most extraordinary buildings of the Late Baroque were constructed in Austria, Germany, and Czechia. In Austria, the leading figure was Fischer von Erlach , who built the Karlskirche , the largest church of Vienna , to glorify the Habsburg emperors. These works sometimes borrowed elements from Versailles combined with elements of the Italian Baroque to create grandiose new effects, as in the Schwarzenberg Palace (1715). Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt used grand stairways and ellipses to achieve his effects at
1872-482: The nave is the largest crypt in Germany. The decoration of the interior involved artists from various parts of Europe including Giovanni Battista Carlone who created the stucco works and Jakob Steinfels from Prague who painted the frescos. Those on the ceiling of the choir depict scenes of the legendary founding of the monastery Waldsassen. The church contains ten reliquaries of richly dressed and bejewelled skeletons,
1920-448: The organ was extensively rebuilt in the rococo housing. From 1982 to 1983, Georg Jann (Laberweinting) built new organs in the choir. From 1988 to 1989, Jann rebuilt all three organs after plans by Günther Kaunzinger , using partly the old pipes. In 1992 to 1993, two consoles were installed, both with six manuals, one on the gallery, and a movable one in the nave. The main instrument has 141 ranks, 101 stops and 7,720 pipes. In addition to
1968-557: The upper and lower Belvedere Palace in Vienna (1714–1722). In The Abbey of Melk , Jakob Prandtauer used an abundance of polychrome marble and stucco, statuary and ceiling paintings to achieve harmonious and highly theatrical effects. Another important figure of German Baroque was Balthasar Neumann (1687–1753), whose works included the Würzburg Residence for the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg , with its famous staircase. In Bohemia ,
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2016-558: The use of quadratura (i.e. trompe-l'œil painting combined with sculpture): the eye is drawn upward, giving the illusion that one is looking into the heavens. Clusters of sculpted angels and painted figures crowd the ceiling. Light was also used for dramatic effect; it streamed down from cupolas , and was reflected from an abundance of gilding . Twisted columns were also often used, to give an illusion of upwards motion, and cartouches and other decorative elements occupied every available space. In Baroque palaces, grand stairways became
2064-468: Was modeled after the architecture of Lisbon , different from the Spanish style. The most notable architect in Brazil was Aleijadinho , who was native of Brazil, half-Portuguese, and self-taught. His most famous work is the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Ouro Preto) . Baroque architecture often used visual and theatrical effects, designed to surprise and awe the viewer: Cupola In architecture ,
2112-433: Was more ordered and classical; examples included the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles and the dome of Les Invalides . An especially ornate variant, appeared in the early 18th century; it was first called Rocaille in France; then Rococo in Spain and Central Europe. The sculpted and painted decoration covered every space on the walls and ceiling. Its most celebrated architect was Balthasar Neumann , noted for
2160-514: Was relatively restrained, but the interiors, and especially the immense fresco on the ceiling of the salon, the Allegory of Divine Providence and Barberini Power painted by Pietro da Cortona , are considered masterpieces of Baroque art and decoration. Curving façades and the illusion of movement were a speciality of Francesco Borromini, most notably in San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (1634–1646), one of
2208-577: Was soon added for the Collège des Quatre-Nations (now the Institut de France ). In 1661, following the death of Cardinal Mazarin , the young Louis XIV took direct charge of the government. The arts were put under the direction of his Controller-General of Finances , Jean-Baptiste Colbert . Charles Le Brun , director of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture , was named Superintendent of Buildings of
2256-832: Was the Corpus Christi Church, Nesvizh in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , built by the Jesuits on the Roman model between 1586 and 1593 in Nieśwież (after 1945 Niasvizh in Belarus). The church also holds a distinction of being the first domed basilica with a Baroque façade in the Commonwealth and Eastern Europe. Another early example in Poland is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Kraków , built between 1597 and 1619 by
2304-586: Was used in churches and palaces in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Bavaria and Austria. In the Late Baroque period (1675–1750), it reached as far as Russia, the Ottoman Empire and the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in Latin America. In about 1730, an even more elaborately decorative variant called Rococo appeared and flourished in Central Europe. Baroque architects took the basic elements of Renaissance architecture , including domes and colonnades , and made them higher, grander, more decorated, and more dramatic. The interior effects were often achieved with
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