Paul Francke (architect)
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Paul Francke (c. 1537, Weimar - 10 November 1615, Wolfenbüttel) was a German Renaissance architect, most notable as director of works for the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1564 until his death in 1615. His works include the Juleum Novum in Helmstedt, the Marienkirche in Wolfenbüttel (where he is also buried) and the Burganlage in Erichsburg.
Since he was born in Weimar, he was influenced by 16th century castles and town halls in Thuringia and Saxony.[1] He is first recorded as director of works in 1564, swearing an oath to Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg the following year after working for him on Hesse Castle.[1] He is also recorded in 1573 as a 'Bauverwalter' or 'construction manager'. In 1575 he was put in charge of all the duke's building projects, including the fortifications for the new Heinrichstadt and Wolfenbüttel Castle, employing the Dutch engineer Wilhelm de Raet. Next he directed the construction of the college buildings (1577–78) and main 'Juleum' building (1593-1597) for the new University of Helmstedt. In 1606 he headed the reconstruction of the former abbey church at Riddagshausen Abbey.[1]
From 1608 he also designed and supervised the construction of the Marienkirche in Wolfenbüttel, commissioned by Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The architects Christoph Tendler, Johann Bock, Philipp Müller, Hans Vredemann de Vries and the military engineer Rochus de Lynar all also worked under his supervision as director of works.[1]
Buildings
His known works include:
- 1564 and 1594: Schloss Hessen am Fallstein
- 1577–1578: Kollegienflügel of the University of Helmstedt
- 1596: Kommisse in Halberstadt
- 1593–1597: Juleum in Helmstedt
- c. 1600: Stift Gandersheim abbey building[2]
- 1604–1612: The surviving part of Erichsburg[3]
- 1606: Restoration of the partially-destroyed Cistercian monastery of Riddagshausen near Brunswick
- Begun in 1608: Marienkirche in Wolfenbüttel
- Begun in 1609: Schloss Salder in Salzgitter-Salder
- Begun in 1613: Zeughaus und Schlossturm in Wolfenbüttel
- 1613: Design for a new version of the Liebfrauenkirche in Hornburg im Harz.[4]
