KNOBELSDORFF, Georg Wenceslaus von

Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin was the king’s residence and official seat. Frederick II had commissioned Knobelsdorff to undertake the enlargement of the new wing of the palace as early as 1740. A new east wing was to be added to the main building, partly as a foil to the orangery in the west wing. A graceful stairwell links the lobby with the dining room. The adjacent Golden Gallery, with its rocaille decoration, volutes, flowers and dancing putti, displays a stylish but restrained splendour, and is one of the finest Rococo banqueting halls in Europe.

The picture shows a view of the east wing.

Since the mid-18th century, one of the most important civil building tasks had been the construction of theatres, and the historical development from Neoclassicism through to Revivalism can be clearly followed in them. Knobelsdorff’s opera house on Unter den Linden in Berlin, designed in 1740, with its clear cubic separation of the building masses and the central portico, anticipates the trend towards Neoclassicism.

Since the mid-18th century, one of the most important civil building tasks had been the construction of theatres, and the historical development from Neoclassicism through to Revivalism can be clearly followed in them. Knobelsdorff’s opera house on Unter den Linden in Berlin, designed in 1740, with its clear cubic separation of the building masses and the central portico, anticipates the trend towards Neoclassicism.

Sanssouci is the former summer palace of Frederick II (Frederick the Great, 1712-1786), King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is notable for the numerous temples and follies in the park. The palace was designed/built by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfil King Frederick’s need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court.

In 1744, an artificially terraced vineyard was laid out with six curved terraces and a central flight of steps. Frederick II chose this for his summer residence. The palace of Sanssouci, together with the extensive gardens, was laid out in accordance with plans by the architect Knobelsdorff, although Frederick himself made his own contribution, as surviving sketches indicate. A mere two years after starting work, fitting out of the interiors had already started under Knobelsdorff’s direction. Almost a century later the return wings were added.

The oval central section of the palace contains the principal rooms, including the domed Marble Hall with its coloured marble. Adjacent to it are the king’s living rooms, the music room and bedroom-cum-study. The circular library with cedar paneling and bronze ornament is like a precious gem. The rear courtyard is surrounded by colonnades.

The picture shows the artificially terraced vineyard with the central flight of steps.

Sanssouci is the former summer palace of Frederick II (Frederick the Great, 1712-1786), King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is notable for the numerous temples and follies in the park. The palace was designed/built by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfil King Frederick’s need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court.

In 1744, an artificially terraced vineyard was laid out with six curved terraces and a central flight of steps. Frederick II chose this for his summer residence. The palace of Sanssouci, together with the extensive gardens, was laid out in accordance with plans by the architect Knobelsdorff, although Frederick himself made his own contribution, as surviving sketches indicate. A mere two years after starting work, fitting out of the interiors had already started under Knobelsdorff’s direction. Almost a century later the return wings were added.

The oval central section of the palace contains the principal rooms, including the domed Marble Hall with its coloured marble. Adjacent to it are the king’s living rooms, the music room and bedroom-cum-study. The circular library with cedar paneling and bronze ornament is like a precious gem. The rear courtyard is surrounded by colonnades.

The picture shows the exterior of the Marble Hall.

Sanssouci is the former summer palace of Frederick II (Frederick the Great, 1712-1786), King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is notable for the numerous temples and follies in the park. The palace was designed/built by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfil King Frederick’s need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court.

In 1744, an artificially terraced vineyard was laid out with six curved terraces and a central flight of steps. Frederick II chose this for his summer residence. The palace of Sanssouci, together with the extensive gardens, was laid out in accordance with plans by the architect Knobelsdorff, although Frederick himself made his own contribution, as surviving sketches indicate. A mere two years after starting work, fitting out of the interiors had already started under Knobelsdorff’s direction. Almost a century later the return wings were added.

The oval central section of the palace contains the principal rooms, including the domed Marble Hall with its coloured marble. Adjacent to it are the king’s living rooms, the music room and bedroom-cum-study. The circular library with cedar paneling and bronze ornament is like a precious gem. The rear courtyard is surrounded by colonnades.

The picture shows the garden with vineyard.

Great Elector Frederick William acquired the town of Potsdam with several neighbouring villages 1n 1660, and he made Potsdam a second royal seat after Berlin. The first building works undertaken between 1664 and 1670 were for the Potsdam Stadtschloss, which was to replace a medieval castle and its buildings that protected a crossing of the river Havel. By 1680 it was completed by the collaboration of several architect. It was transformed in the 1690s, and after the accession of King Frederick II it was rebuilt by Georg Wenceslaus von Knobelsdorff.

The Stadtschloss was destroyed in the Second World War.

Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin was the king’s residence and official seat. Frederick II had commissioned Knobelsdorff to undertake the enlargement of the new wing of the palace as early as 1740. A new east wing was to be added to the main building, partly as a foil to the orangery in the west wing. A graceful stairwell links the lobby with the dining room. The adjacent Golden Gallery, with its rocaille decoration, volutes, flowers and dancing putti, displays a stylish but restrained splendour, and is one of the finest Rococo banqueting halls in Europe.

The picture shows the Golden Gallery in the east wing of the palace. It was reconstructed in 1961-73 after destruction during the Second World War.

Sanssouci is the former summer palace of Frederick II (Frederick the Great, 1712-1786), King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is notable for the numerous temples and follies in the park. The palace was designed/built by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfil King Frederick’s need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court.

In 1744, an artificially terraced vineyard was laid out with six curved terraces and a central flight of steps. Frederick II chose this for his summer residence. The palace of Sanssouci, together with the extensive gardens, was laid out in accordance with plans by the architect Knobelsdorff, although Frederick himself made his own contribution, as surviving sketches indicate. A mere two years after starting work, fitting out of the interiors had already started under Knobelsdorff’s direction. Almost a century later the return wings were added.

The oval central section of the palace contains the principal rooms, including the domed Marble Hall with its coloured marble. Adjacent to it are the king’s living rooms, the music room and bedroom-cum-study. The circular library with cedar paneling and bronze ornament is like a precious gem. The rear courtyard is surrounded by colonnades.

The picture shows the entrance hall leading to the Marble Hall.

In 1744, an artificially terraced vineyard was laid out with six curved terraces and a central flight of steps. King Frederick II chose this for his summer residence. The palace of Sanssouci, together with the extensive gardens, was laid out in accordance with plans by the architect Knobelsdorff, although Frederick himself made his own contribution, as surviving sketches indicate. A mere two years after starting work, fitting out of the interiors had already started under Knobelsdorff’s direction. Almost a century later the return wings were added.

The oval central section of the palace contains the principal rooms, including the domed Marble Hall with its coloured marble. Adjacent to it are the king’s living rooms, the music room and bedroom-cum-study. The circular library with cedar paneling and bronze ornament is like a precious gem. The rear courtyard is surrounded by colonnades.

The picture shows the Marble Hall.