Fischer von Erlach, Johann Bernhard (1656-1723)

Austrian architect, sculptor and architectural historian, leader of the Austrian baroque. He created a new style which was a remarkable synthesis of a wide range of influences. His masterpiece is the striking Karlskirche (begun 1715) in Vienna.

His book Entwurff Einer Historischen Architectur 1721 was the first comparative history of architecture on an international scale. An English translation, A Plan of Civil and Historical Architecture , appeared in 1730.

Born in Graz, he began as a sculptor, trained by his father. About 1671 he went to Rome where, in Bernini's studios, he studied metallurgy, medal design, and architecture. Later he went to Naples and, after 16 years in Italy, returned to Austria and settled in Vienna, where he was made Court Architect in 1704. His buildings include two churches - the Dreifältigkeitskirche (1694-1702) and Kollegienkirche 1696-1707 - in Salzburg, showing the influence mainly of Francesco Borromini; Schönbrunn Palace (1696-1711), the Town Palace of Prince Eugène of Savoy (1695-1700), Batthyany-Schonborn Palace (1699-1706), and the Bohemian Chancellery (1708-14), all in Vienna; and Gallas Palace (begun 1713) in Prague.