Friedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg

Friedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg (1837–1919) was a German-Dutch sculptor, architect of church interiors, and art collector. His work promoted the Gothic Revival architectural-style in churches throughout Germany and the Netherlands.

Family members and early life Mengelberg's parents were Johann Egidius Mengelberg and Catharina Wilhelmina Leiniger. His grandfather Egidius Mengelberg (1770–1849) was a well-known painter, as was his uncle, Otto Mengelberg (1817–1890). On 18 October 1866 Mengelberg married Wilhelmina Helen Schrattenholz, and together they had sixteen children – eight sons and eight daughters – including the conductor Willem Mengelberg (1871–1951); some of their children died young.

Career Mengelberg came from a family of artists. He began his Neoclassical architecture training in Cologne under the sculptor Christoph Stephann (1797–1864). Friedrich (von) Schmidt subsequently instructed him in medieval art, especially Gothic art. He set up a studio in Cologne, managed by his younger brother Otto, Mengelberg became the most prominent member of the guild and set up a workshop studio, a closed society of specialized artists employing Gothic principles and techniques to produce items sold to the clergy. By the late 19th century Mengelberg's studio was employing more than 30 artists, designing and building items for church interiors such as organ fronts, communion pews, pulpits, altars, confessionals, and Stations of the Cross.

By the end of the 19th century there were many workshops producing church art, and competition between them was often intense. But Mengelberg was confident that his studio could always produce quality items equal to or better than his competitors, supported by a fairly clear artistic doctrine in his studio and the artists' dedication. After his death the studio continued under the control of two of his sons, Joseph and Hans.

Mengelberg's collection of art works was sold after his death by Jan Herman van Heek, a descendant of the well-known van Heek textile family. It formed the core of the Huis Bergh's art collection.

Church interiors from Mengelberg studios

Mengelberg built church furniture and other interior items for the following churches. Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany Saint Willibrord's Church in Utrecht St. Nicholas' Basilica in IJsselstein The Chalk Mountain in Amsterdam St. Joseph's Cathedral in Groningen H. Exaltation to Raalte St. Michael's Church in Schalkwijk St. Joseph's Church in Enschede St. Mary's Church in Apeldoorn St. Vitus' Church in Hilversum St. Ludgeruskerk in Balk St. Michael's Church in Harlingen St. Werenfridus' Church in Workum Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption in Zwolle St. Nicholas' Church in Jutphaas Pancratiuskerk in 's-Heerenberg St.Mariä Rosenkranz(Moenchengladbach-Eicken/Germany)