The German city of Wismar on the coast of the Baltic Sea is known for its brick Gothic architectural monuments, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but literally in the middle of them is a special attraction of Renaissance architecture – the former Princely Compound or Fürstenhof (Fürstenhof Wismar).
Now the administrative court is located in this building, so it is not at all necessary to strive inside. Of interest are the facades – beautifully restored and richly decorated with bas-reliefs, figures, friezes and other decorative elements.
Baltic Renaissance
Built in the 16th century for the dukes of Mecklenburg (Haus Mecklenburg or Obodriten), Fürstenhof was the first Renaissance-style palace in the region. Palazzo Roverella in the Italian city of Ferrara served as a model for German architects. The existence of an older residence of the rulers of the House of Mecklenburg in Wismar was first mentioned in writing in documents from the middle of the 13th century. This princely family of Slavic origin ruled in these lands from the 12th century until the founding of the Weimar Republic.
The current site for Fürstenhof was chosen between two city churches – St. Mary and St. George – back in 1329. That is, the building that has survived to this day was not the first. For a long time, there were disputes between the dukes and members of the city council about how to build a residence – in the form of a defensive castle or palace. By this time, Wismar was already a member of the Hanseatic League and was a free city on the territory of the Mecklenburg rulers, so the issue was political and decided in favor of a peaceful representative option.
Palaces for weddings
The chronicles of the XIV century testify to the goftags held in Wismar, that is, royal councils, holidays, tournaments, funerals and weddings. Just half a century before the start of the construction of the Renaissance palace on this site in 1512, a new building was built in the late Gothic style – especially for the marriage of the then Duke Henry V of Mecklenburg (Heinrich V. von Mecklenburg) and Helene of the Palatinate (Helene von der Pfalz).
However, soon, in the middle of the 16th century, the building fashion of the Renaissance era reached the coast of the Baltic Sea from Italy. The next ruler of Mecklenburg, Duke Johann Albrecht I (Johann Albrecht I), preparing for his wedding, ordered the construction of a new palace in the spirit of the times for this joyful event – the current Princely Compound. To do this, they almost completely dismantled an almost new … late Gothic building.
It should be noted that the main residence of the rulers from this dynasty was the Schwerin Castle, now the parliament building of Mecklenburg – Vorpommern. In addition to Wismar, other residences were located, in particular, in Rostock, Ludwigslust and Güstrow.
After the Thirty Years’ War
In 1648, according to the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War in Europe, Wismar passed into the possession of Sweden – it became part of Swedish Pomerania. Soon, a tribunal settled in the former princely residence – the supreme court of the new Swedish province. Later, at various times, a theater, an infirmary, an archive, a kitchen for the poor, a stable, and even a station for mating horses also worked or were equipped in Fürstenhof.
In the days of the GDR, the district court was located in the Princely Compound, so in the early 1950s the authorities allocated funds for a major overhaul. After German reunification, a major restoration was carried out here in 1999-2002.
Style of Johann Albrecht
Palazzo Roverella in Northern Italy and the Princely Compound in Northern Germany have survived to this day. At the same time, the palace in Wismar even laid the foundation for a special regional style of the Renaissance, named after the customer of this palace, Johann Albrecht – Johann-Albrecht-Stil. Characteristic for it are just such facades, richly decorated with reliefs and friezes made of terracotta.
Lime stone was used for some of the decorations in Wismar, but most of the decorative elements are made of baked clay. The order was completed by the workshop of Statius Dürensky (Statius von Düren) in Lübeck. She made terracotta reliefs for many parts of northern Germany, such as Schwerin Castle, the German cities of Flensburg and Stralsund, and for clients in Denmark.
As samples for terracotta ornaments in this workshop, they often turned to the works of the Westphalian engraver Heinrich Aldegrever, a student of Albrecht Dürer. For the sculptural decorations of the facades, the builders of the Princely Compound in Wismar used classical Italian motifs, but turned to the stylistic devices of North German and Netherlandish artists.
Not all stories are recognizable at first glance. Some require hints, others are obvious – they are often found in works of art from various eras. The Trojan War, the biblical parable of the prodigal son, the story of Samson and the temptress Delilah who betrayed him. The sleeping Old Testament hero, whose strength lay in his long hair, was located above the arch from the side of the courtyard …