TIROL, Hans

German painter and architect. First recorded in Augsburg in 1531, marrying the daughter of Jörg Breu the Elder, he became a master painter in 1532. He collaborated on work, including murals at the Weberhaus, Augsburg, with his father-in-law and the latter’s son, Jörg Breu the Younger (c. 1510-1547), developing no separate artistic identity. In 1542 he was appointed to the Augsburg building committee, and afterwards he worked almost exclusively as an architect and commissioner of art.

From 1551 he lived in Prague as court architect to Archduke (later King and Emperor) Ferdinand I, being entrusted with extensions to Prague Castle, among other things. In 1555-56 he was in charge of the building of the Star Castle (now Villa Hvezda) outside Prague; its interesting shape is based on a design by Archduke Ferdinand. On Ferdinand’s death (1564) Tirol’s position in Bohemia became less assured. Even though he was confirmed in his office by Ferdinand’s successor, Emperor Maximilian II, he was prosecuted for debt and was soon obliged to leave Prague. From 1570 he was back in Augsburg.

Woodcuts, miniatures and drawings in various codices that are linked with Hans Tirol’s name are not his work; he only wrote the text for them and acted as publisher.