Willem van den Blocke

Willem van den Blocke (c. 1550 – 1628) was a sculptor and architect of Flemish descent who was active in the Baltics and worked in a mannerist style.

Biography He was born in Mechelen, the son of Franciscus van den Blocke, who was also a sculptor. Willem received his first training in the art of stone carving and sculpting in his father's workshop in Mechelen.

In 1569, he went to Königsberg (Kaliningrad). He was part of a group of pupils and assistants of Cornelis Floris, which included Gert van Egen, Robert Coppens and Philips Brandin, who moved to the Baltic region to take advantage of Floris’ network and the international popularity of the Floris style. The Baltic region was at the time politically relatively stable when compared to Willem's native home, the Spanish Netherlands, which were rife with religious persecution. In the Baltics, there was also less competition from other artists.

In Konigsberg van den Blocke worked on the monumental tomb of Albert, Duke in Prussia, designed by Floris, in the local cathedral. In 1581 he designed and executed the tomb of princess Elizabeth, the first wife of George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, also in the Königsberg Cathedral.

After 14 years of service to the Margrave, he received a recommendation letter and then went to work in Poland. He received many commissions such as the design and execution of the tomb of Christopher Báthory, brother of the King of Poland Stephen Báthory. whereas his sons Jacob van den Blocke, Isaak van den Blocke and David van den Blocke were painters. Van den Blocke died in Danzig in the same year as his sons Abraham and Isaac, likely from an infectious disease.

Work Willem van den Blocke is regarded as the main representative in the Baltics of Italianizing Flemish mannerism as developed first by Cornelis Floris. Although he designed many building ornaments, he is best known for his monuments. His monuments are characterized by their clarity and rich ornamentation. The deceased are presented realistically.

Known works Epitaph of Edward Blemke in the St. Mary's Church, 1591 Tomb of the King John III of Sweden in Uppsala Cathedral (1593–1596), was until 1782 installed in the Great Armoury in Danzig, and re-assembled at the current location in 1817–1818 Tomb of Ture Nilsson Bjelke and his wife Margaret Svantesdotter Sture in the Linköping Cathedral, c. 1615

Attributed Works (selection)

Epitaphs Brandes family in the St. Mary's Church, Danzig, 1588 Christoph von Dohna in St. Canute's Cathedral in Odense in Denmark, 1586 Valentin Bodecker in the St. Nicholas Church in Elbing, 1587 Family Stroband in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Toruń, 1590

Tombs Kos family in Oliwa Cathedral, 1600 or 1620 Martin de Berzewice in Lisnowo near Brodnica, 1592 (destroyed 1939) Andreas and Balthasar Báthory in the St. Andrew's Church in Wartenburg, 1598 Peter Tarnowski in the cathedral of Łowicz, after 1604 Stanislaus Radziwill in the former Bernardine church in Vilnius, 1618–1623

Facades of houses Home of the Danzig St. George Archers (late 16th century) Esken house in Torun (1590)