Laurenz Cronenberg

Laurenz Cronberg , also Laurentz Cronberg , (* before 1520, † after 1550) was a late medieval Cologne cathedral builder at Cologne Cathedral .

Life and activity

Little is known about the civil engineer, officially known as the "cathedral master craftsman". A notarial deed dated February 15, 1539 cites Laurenz Cronenberg as the foreman of the "cathedral factory". The minutes from the Cologne City Council show that a "Master Laurentz Cronberg" was a city official and was dismissed from service as a circulation or city building inspector on August 22, 1547 due to illness. "Because the Laurentz Cronenberg circulation was recognized as unclean by the doctors, Heinrich Bilck was chosen in his place." Johann Jakob Merlo suspected in 1895 that Cronenberg was not called in as a master craftsman, but only as an expert from the cathedral building administration. The one for a leperexplained Cronenberg must have been ill for some time when he was released, because Bilck had already represented him before August 1547. Cronenberg asked the city for maintenance in 1550. Thereupon a council decision was issued, according to which Cronenberg should receive a weekly guilder of Cologne money for life, and the rent masters should look for suitable accommodation for him. This council resolution documents the last sign of life from Cronenberg, which is no longer reported later.

Cessation of construction activity on Cologne Cathedral

Cronenberg's work for the cathedral fell at a time when the cathedral construction work was declining, because interest in the further construction of the cathedral fell due to changed aesthetic ideas and fewer pilgrims . The last known master builder from 1469 was Johann Kuene van Franckenberg , who was last mentioned in 1491. Around 1500 the foundation stone of the north tower was laid , which was not completed until 1880 in the course of the neo-Gothic completion of the cathedral. Since 1510, work on the cathedral was gradually stopped. More recent research suggests that construction will be largely halted as early as 1530, even if money was still flowing for equipment and repairs. Cronenberg was the last creative city responsible for the cathedral in the Middle Ages. Leonard Ennen reports that the last money was spent on construction in 1559 and that construction was completely halted in 1560 after the cathedral chapter officially ended the financing of further cathedral construction in 1560. That was also the reason why the function of the cathedral builder and the cathedral building administration increasingly lost importance. The next official cathedral builder was not appointed until 1821 with Friedrich Adolf Ahlert .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Woldemar Harless: Archives for the history of the Lower Rhine. Volume 6, 1868, p. 59 f. ( books.google.de ).
2. ↑ a municipal construction officer who was usually entrusted with security tasks.
3. ^ Johann Jakob Merlo , Eduard Firmenich-Richartz : Cologne artists in old and new times. 1895, p. 175.
4. ^ M. Du Mont-Schauberg: Messages from the city archive of Cologne. Volume 15, 1918, p. 448.
5. ^ Johann Jakob Merlo, Eduard Firmenich-Richartz: Cologne artists in old and new times. 1895, p. 179.
6. ^ Manfred Groten, Manfred Huiskes: Resolutions of the Council of the City of Cologne. 1320-1550: 1541-1550. 1990, p. 533.
7. ↑ Leonard Ennen: The cathedral in Cologne from its beginning to its completion: Festschrift dedicated to friends and patrons on the occasion of the completion of the understanding of the Central Dombauverein. 1880, p. 79.
8. ^ Carola Maria Werhahn: The foundation of Victor von Carben (1423-1515) in Cologne Cathedral. 2010, p. 141 (excerpt, books.google.de ).