Architect in History: Karl Friedrich Schinkel
One of the best ways to understand a historical period is through biography, that is, to look closely at the life and work of an individual who lived during that time. As part of your study of modern European architecture, you will choose one of the architects, planners, or designers introduced in the Bergdoll text and do additional reading about their life and the events that shaped it. You will then write a paper that draws connections between your subject’s work and the time in which they lived.
For example, if this were a course on 20th c. American architecture you might choose to write a paper on Maya Lin, an architect whose best-known work is the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., completed in 1982. You would research her life, using credible on-line or published sources, and then choose one or more historical events that took place during her life for additional research. You might choose to focus on the Vietnam War and its troubled legacy in American culture. On the other hand, you could do research on immigration from Asia in the second half of the 20th c. and tie it to Lin’s experience as the child of Chinese immigrants. You could develop as many historical themes as you like so long as you show a connection between these events and Lin’s life and designs. Your paper would include a summary of the key events of her life, a description of the historical event or events that you choose to highlight, and a concluding discussion of the Memorial itself as a monument, including your own analysis of how it reflects the history you’ve described.
The paper should be about 5 pages (minimum 1200 words) and should include a Works Cited page and appropriate references within the text. Review again the handout about plagiarism and be very careful to avoid borrowing words or ideas without proper citation. During the first week of the course, peruse the Bergdoll book and choose a figure that interests you. Find at least one article or book that discusses your subject’s life. Submit the name of your subject and at least one biographical source to the Teaching Assistant no later than Friday, June 8. I will let you know right away if there is a problem with your selection or source. Work steadily on the paper throughout the last two weeks of the course. It is due no later than 18:00 on Friday July 8th.
Term Paper Assignment
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Class Information
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Introduction
Over the years, architecture has been one of the major topics. One of the reasons why individuals have continued to discuss architecture is because most of it shows that some instances happened in history. Even though there have been different architects in history, Karl Friedrich Schinkel has remained one of the architects that have remained popular in society. The main reason for his popularity was that his architecture revolved around what was happening during that period and remained one of the outstanding historical features.
Key Events That Influenced Karl's Life
In understanding Karl, it is critical to check his life's critical events and how they shaped his architectural life. Karl was born on March 13, 1781, and his father later died in 1787 due to a disastrous Neuruppin fire. One of the reasons that influenced Karl to become an architect was the notable works of Friedrich Gilly. This prompted him to study in 1798, where he benefited from Gilly's inspiring tutelage for approximately three years. During this time, the Prussian architectural taste was based on the neoclassical style, mainly influenced by Carl Gotthard Langhans, Brandenburg Gate architect in Berlin.[Snodin, Michael, and Karl Friedrich Schinkel. "Karl Friedrich Schinkel: a universal man." (No Title) (1991).]
Later in 1800, he joined the Academy of Architecture in Berlin, where he studied for another two years. Later, he traveled to Italy and France, which played a huge role in transforming his architecture. For example, his extensive travels to these two countries in 1803 played a critical role in inspiring and enhancing his architectural orientations. After returning from Italy to Berlin in 1805, he started earning as a painter. However, there was an event that happened which transformed him to stop focusing on painting and shift to architecture. For example, in 1810, he saw the Wanderer above the Sea of Fog painting by Caspar David Friedrich, which was outstanding. Since he noted that he might never reach this mastery, he shifted from painting to architecture.
Furthermore, Napoleon's defeat also played a critical role in shaping Karl's architectural journey. Since when the defeat of Prussia by the French, there were no prospects of architectural commission at the capital; it gave Karl a chance to produce dioramas and panoramas, in addition to other idealized landscapes and pictures. The following work makes him well-known and attracts Queen Luise's attention. He was commissioned to redecorate various palace –interiors in Berlin and Charlottenburg.[Baran, Mustafa Kemal. "Travelling/writing/drawing: Karl Friedrich Schinkel's architectural journey to İtaly (1824)." Master's thesis, Middle East Technical University, 2011.]
He was also appointed to oversee the Prussian Building Commission after this defeat. This position was an opportunity for him to attain other opportunities. For example, during this period, he was not only responsible for transforming the still and unspectacular Berlin city to become representative Prussia's capital but also a mastermind in oversowing the projects which were expanding the Prussian territories from Rhineland which was at the west to Königsberg which was at the East. The perfect example was the New Altstadt Church. This period shaped the great success that we are currently experiencing.
Karl’s Achievements
One of the reasons Karl was referred to as one of the greatest architects in Prussia within the 19th century was his neoclassical architecture. Since this architecture was outstanding, it played a crucial role in defining the German capital look. One of the greatest buildings that Karl has been known for is the Altes Museum which was built under the order of King Frederick William III of Prussia. Over the years, the Altes Museum has been referred to as one of the German Neoclassical architecture major works. The Berlin Palace surrounds this museum to the south, Berlin Cathedral to the East, and Zeughaus to the west. This monument had 18 Ionic fluted columns, an expansive atrium, and a sweeping staircase. These features helped the attendants to ascend to the top.[Mroczek, Diana. "Ancient Portrait Busts of Marcus Aurelius in the National Museum in Poznań." Études et Travaux 34 (2021): 265-286.]
This region also had a rotunda decorated with varying Antique sculptures from both sides, which would help to collect individual thoughts while giving them a clear reference to the Rome Pantheon. During that time, those signs of architectural refinement had only been used for the buildings built for nobility and royalty. Since the museum had outstanding features, it ...