Rupert Bindenschu

Rupert Bindenschu (* 1645 in Strasbourg ; † July 21, 1698 in Riga ) was an architect and city builder in Riga.

origin

Bindenschu came from Strasbourg, where his father Balthasar kept a carpentry shop. There he learned his trade. His mother's name was Suzanne Reinhold.

Life

Bindenschu reached Riga in 1671, but first took part in the construction of the steeple of the Olaikirche in Reval as assistant to the local master builder Jakob Josten. From 1675 he worked in Riga, where he is still regarded today as one of the most important builders. On January 21, 1676 he acquired citizenship in Riga as Robert Bindschuh. After the great fire in the city, Bindenschu played a key role in the reconstruction from 1677 onwards.

On April 23, 1685 he donated for the St. Jacobs Bell and in 1690 completed the tower of St. Petri Church , which collapsed in 1666, in the Baroque style with several galleries and helmets . From March 15, 1692 Bindenschu was foreman in the cathedral , where he was commissioned to expand the organ choir. In 1696 he also holds the title of art master.

He also owned a comprehensive and thematically broad library, which shows that his interests went far beyond architecture. Forced by illness, he gave up the office of city architect in 1698 and died shortly afterwards.

family

Bindenschu was married twice, with his first wife NN († 1685) remaining unknown. His second wife was Elisabeth Thorn (* 1660; † 1721). Several children resulted from both marriages.

1. Catarina, (* 1676; † 1708), ⚭ before 1696 Johan Jacob Erhardt
2. Rubbert, (* 1678)
3. Margreta, (* 1680), ⚭ before 1699 Andreas Thorn
4. Johan, (* 1682)
5. Elisabeth, (* 1687; † 1696)
6. Susanna, (* 1689), ⚭ 1711 Joachim Friedrich Keibelius
7. Barbara, (* 1691; † 1712), ⚭ 1711 Josua Stegmann
8. Michael, (* 1694)
9. Elisabeth, (* 1695)
10. ? Maria, († 1735), ⚭ 1718 Friderich Kühn, businessman

Works (selection)

• 

  Tower and facade of St. Peter's Church in Riga

• 

  Lutheran Church in St. Matthiae

• 

  von Reutern's house in Riga

• 

  Interior view of the Riga Cathedral

• 

  Dannensternhaus in Riga

literature

• Paul Campe: The city art and work master Rupert Bindenschu and his effectiveness in Riga. A contribution to the building history of Riga at the end of the 17th century. Holzner, Riga, 1944.
• Karina Kulbach-Fricke: Riga Citizens Register. Riga its population from the 14th to 19th centuries. CD, Merzhausen 2nd edition 2011, p. 420.
• Wilhelm Neumann : Bindenschu, Rupert . In: Ulrich Thieme , Felix Becker (Hrsg.): General Lexicon of Fine Artists from Antiquity to the Present . Founded by Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker. tape 4 : Bida – Brevoort . Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig 1910, p. 37 ( Textarchiv - Internet Archive ).
• Baltic Historical Commission (ed.): Entry on Rupert Bindenschu. In: BBLD - Baltic Biographical Lexicon digital

Web links

• Rupert Bindenschu - Works and Works - on Latvia's art history (Latvian)