Karl Friedrich Schinkel

Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) was a Prussian architect, urban planner, painter, stage designer and universal artist whose works still shape the German cultural landscape today. Born in Neuruppin, Schinkel experienced a youth that was overshadowed by the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars, which had a lasting influence on his artistic expression. After the early death of his parents, he found in art and architecture not only a calling, but also a means to overcome personal tragedies. Schinkel studied at the newly founded Bauakademie in Berlin and deepened his knowledge on extensive travels through Europe, especially Italy, where he studied classical architecture.

As an architect of classicism, Schinkel left behind an impressive legacy that extends from the Neue Wache in Berlin to the Schauspielhaus at Gendarmenmarkt. His visions for Berlin, partly realized, partly unfinished, aimed to give the city a new, classicist face. However, Schinkel was not only active as an architect; He also designed furniture, stage sets and was active as a painter. His landscape paintings and architectural fantasies demonstrate a deep romanticism and a strong sense of aesthetics that permeate his architectural works.

Interesting fact:

What is perhaps less known is that Schinkel was also a pioneer in the use of iron casting in architecture. His design for the Bauakademie in Berlin was one of the first buildings to use a cast iron facade, a technique that would later become widespread in industrial architecture. This innovation reflects Schinkel's willingness to question traditional materials and techniques and experiment with new methods.

Important works of art & images by Karl Friedrich Schinkel:

1. Old Museum, Berlin (1823-1830)
2. Neue Wache, Berlin (1816-1818)
3. Schauspielhaus am Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin (1818-1821)
4. Charlottenhof Palace, Potsdam (1826-1829)
5. Building Academy, Berlin (1832-1836)
6. Nikolaikirche, Potsdam (1830-1837)
7. Castle on Pfaueninsel, Berlin (1824-1827)
8. Design for a Royal Palace on the Acropolis in Athens (design, unrealized, 1834)
9. Medieval Waterfront City (watercolor, 1815)
10. Gothic Cathedral on the Water (watercolor, 1813)