Leo Klentse German architect. In solemn, heavy buildings he imitated ancient Greek models Date of Birth: 29.02.1784 Country: Germany

1. Leo von Klenze: A German Architect and Artist
2. Court Architect of Ludwig I of Bavaria
3. Combining Ancient Greek Motifs
4. The Glyptothek and Alte Pinakothek
5. The Walhalla Monument
6. International Renown

Leo von Klenze: A German Architect and Artist

Leo von Klenze, born on February 29, 1784, in Schladen, Germany, was a renowned German architect, artist, and writer. He is considered an outstanding representative of classicism in architecture. Klenze received his education in Germany, France, and Italy, and later served as the court architect for Jerome Bonaparte in Kassel from 1808 to 1813.

Court Architect of Ludwig I of Bavaria

In 1815, Klenze was appointed as the court architect for Ludwig I, the King of Bavaria. He held this position in Munich until his death on January 27, 1864. Klenze's urban planning and architectural works in Munich, starting from 1816, as well as in Athens from 1839 to 1851, are characterized by a grand and strict regularity.

Combining Ancient Greek Motifs

Klenze's heavy and monumental structures, such as the Glyptothek (1816-1830) and the Alte Pinakothek (1826-1836) in Munich, as well as the New Hermitage in Saint Petersburg (1839-1852), combine motifs of ancient Greek architecture with pedantic precision and dryness. Unlike Karl Friedrich Schinkel, a contemporary architect ahead of his time, Klenze's work is focused on the past. Each of his buildings represents a relatively free variation on the theme of a specific historical style.

The Glyptothek and Alte Pinakothek

The Glyptothek, built in Munich from 1816 to 1830, houses a collection of sculptures and is designed in the style of ancient Greek architecture. The facade of the Alte Pinakothek, constructed from 1826 to 1836, replicates the forms of Italian Renaissance architecture and serves as a gallery for old masters' works. However, Klenze's buildings also anticipate the future of architecture. Several decades later, this kind of mechanical borrowing of forms and ornaments from the past would become a calamity for European architecture.

The Walhalla Monument

From 1830 to 1842, Klenze constructed the Walhalla monument near Regensburg based on his design. The monument, named after the legendary realm of fallen warriors in ancient Germanic mythology, was intended to be a pantheon for the German people. The central element of the memorial is a gray marble building in the form of an ancient temple, inside which busts of 163 famous Germans are displayed. The construction harmoniously blends with the picturesque landscape, crowning a high forested hill on the banks of the Danube, with a magnificent staircase leading from the foot of the hill to the memorial.

International Renown

As a European celebrity, Leo von Klenze received multiple commissions from foreign rulers. In 1839, he fulfilled a project for the New Hermitage building in Saint Petersburg, Russia, commissioned by Emperor Nicholas I. The construction of the New Hermitage lasted from 1839 to 1852.