Original scientific paper
HERMAN BOLLÉ – CONSTRUCTION AND FURNISHING OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ĐAKOVO (1876–1884)
Dragan DAMJANOVIĆ
Abstract
Herman Bollé (1845–1926) was one of the most important Croatian architects during the last decades of the nineteenth century. With his numerous restorations and new buildings he left a trace in almost every part of the contemporary Croatia. His educational work in
Crafts school paved the way of architectural education and improvement of artisans’ craft in Croatia. Even though, Bollé came from Vienna, his origin was from Cologne. Due to fi nishing of its cathedral church, where it seems even Bollé received his fi rst lectures in architecture, Cologne became the prominent center of neogothic style in Central Europe. In the period between 1867 and 1872 Bollé worked in atelier of Heinrich Wiethase. Thereafter
he moved to Vienna to work with architect Friedrich Schmidt, and he stayed there until 1879. However, in 1875 Schmidt sent him to Italy to design schemes for the future edifi ce of Croatian academy of sciences and arts in Zagreb. During his staying in Rome Bollé was introduced to bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer and fi rst Croatian historian of art Isidor Kršnjavi. Since they both noted qualities of the young architect, they shortly after invited Bollé to come to Zagreb in order to improve quality of Croatian architecture. Thus, from the 1876 Bollé became confi dant for all the Schmidt’s business in Croatia. The most important job conducted by Bollé was undoubtedly project and furnishing of the Đakovo cathedral, which became the greatest ecclesiastical construction within the Croatian architecture
in the second half of the nineteenth century. This edifi ce became reality in the fi rst place because of the efforts of bishop Strossmayer. On the other hand, although he mostly worked on the project of his teacher, Bollé also gave his »personal touch« in the
construction of Đakovo cathedral, especially in the period after 1879 since henceforth he lived in Zagreb and became independent architect. Thus, some equipment of the cathedral was designed according his own project as for example some wrought iron fences on the left stairs to sacristy, and fence between cathedral and the bishop palace. Similarly, he designed wood joinery in the church, as well as some liturgical objects (candle-sticks), and the entire equipment of the sacristy. On the other hand, Strossmayer expected much more from Bollé – restoration of the medieval wall next to cathedral, as well as restoration of cathedral after the big earthquake of 1884. At the end, since Bollé was not able to
fi nish all these projects, and because architect had some arrangements with contemporary ban Dragutin Khuen-Hedervary, this cooperation between Strossmayer and Bollé was
terminated and canceled.
Keywords
Herman Bollé; Friedrich Schmidt; Josip Juraj Strossmayer; Đakovo; Cathedral church; historicism; Neogothic style
Hrčak ID:
40869
URI
Publication date:
18.6.2009.
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