DAUTHE, Johann Carl Friedrich - b. 1746 Leipzig, d. 1816 Bad Flinsberg - WGA

DAUTHE, Johann Carl Friedrich

(b. 1746 Leipzig, d. 1816 Bad Flinsberg)

German architect and etcher who specialised in the Neoclassical style. He was born in Leipzig and educated by Adam Friedrich Oeser (1717-1799). In his hometown, where he had been the city’s construction official most of his buildings have been built, such as the first concert chamber of the Gewandhaus (1781), the square now known as the Augustusplatz (1785) and the interior of the St. Nicholas Church (1794).

Interior view
Interior view by

Interior view

An experiment was ventured by Leipzig’s main architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. during the rebuilding of the Late Gothic church St. Nicolai. While the outer walls of the parish church was left in their medieval condition, Dauthe transformed the interior into veritable blooming garden, with piers converted into palm trees and late Gothic reticulated vaulting transformed into palm leaves. The architect here tries to establish a combination of Gothic lightness and brightness with the grandeur of classical grammar by articulating the side walls and elongated choir with lesenes.

Interior view
Interior view by

Interior view

An experiment was ventured by Leipzig’s main architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe during the rebuilding of the Late Gothic Nicolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church). While the outer walls of the parish church was left in their medieval condition, Dauthe transformed the interior into veritable blooming garden, with piers converted into palm trees and late Gothic reticulated vaulting transformed into palm leaves. The architect here tries to establish a combination of Gothic lightness and brightness with the grandeur of classical grammar by articulating the side walls and elongated choir with lesenes.

In the 18th century, several works by Johann Sebastian Bach, who was the music director of Nikolaikirche and of Thomaskirche from 1723–50, premiered here.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 33 minutes):

Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D major, BWV 243

Feedback