Jan Wellem equestrian monument

Jan Wellem equestrian statue

Equestrian statue, detail

The Jan Wellem memorial on the market square in Düsseldorf 's Altstadt district was started by the Italian-Flemish sculptor Gabriel Grupello in 1703 and erected in 1711. The baroque equestrian statue depicts Johann Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg , the Elector of the Palatinate and Duke of Jülich-Berg , called Jan Wellem by the Lower Franconian speakers of Düsseldorf . The sculpture that Grupello created on behalf of his electoral employer is one of Düsseldorf's landmarks today.

description

Equestrian monument in front of the houses at Marktplatz 6 and 7, 1896

The equestrian statue shows the sovereign in full armor , with electoral hat , order chain and marshal's baton, sitting in a straight posture on the trotting horse.

The green patinated sculpture was cast in bronze in the Gießhaus, later the theater on the market square . According to Grupello's original design, a much higher base was planned. The plinth was supposed to be decorated on all four sides with allegories , the sculptures of lions , each of which throws down a vice - avarice , arrogance , envy and intemperance . The models of the lions had already been completed, but the casting was no longer implemented. Instead of the originally planned magnificent complex, the drawing of which could be seen in the historical museum, only a simple base was created, which was replaced in 1830 by a classical granite base by the sculptor Kramberger. The newly created base is decorated with gilded bronze palm branches and laurel wreaths. Larger inscription panels with a dedication and date can be found on the broad sides of the base. The monument complex is fenced in by a classical lance grille with lance bundles as posts.

“[...] and very close by on the market is one of the most beautiful equestrian monuments in Germany and one of the most beautiful in the world. This is the famous "Jan Wellem", Elector Johann Wilhelm von Gabriel Grupiello. "

- Hermann von Wedderkop , The Book of Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn. Piper, Munich 1928. p. 163.

literature

• Architects and Engineers Association of Düsseldorf (ed.): Düsseldorf and its buildings. L. Schwann, Düsseldorf 1904, p. 68, [Fig. 40].
• Theo Lücker: Stones speak. Small signpost through Düsseldorf's old town . Verlag T. Ewers, Düsseldorf 1977, pp. 82-84 [No. 40 The Jan Wellem Monument].

Web links

Commons : Jan-Wellem-Reiterstandbild (Düsseldorf)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Entry in the monument list of the state capital Düsseldorf at the Institute for Monument Protection and Preservation

Coordinates: 51 ° 13 ′ 32.9 ″  N , 6 ° 46 ′ 19.3 ″  E