The Grotesquery and Wallenstein Palace
Built between 1624 and 1630, Wallenstein Palace was the first large secular building of the Baroque era in Prague. Created as a tribute to himself, Imperial Military Commander Albrecht von Wallenstein intended for his palace to overshadow the Prague Castle.
It was his triumphs over the Protestants during the 30 Years’ War that made Wallenstein an important figure in Prague and vital to the Emperor, Ferdinand II. Maybe it was the fact that Wallenstein portrayed himself as Mars, the God of War, in a ceiling fresco, or maybe it was his designs on obtaining the Crown of Bohemia and plotting with the enemy that ultimately lead to his death by mercenaries on the Emperor’s orders.
Today, this remarkable palace, built by the architect Andrea Spezza, is home to the Czech Senate, but open for those wishing to walk among what has to be one of mankind’s ultimate vanity projects.
All that being said, I’ll show you what a wall from the outside looks like. Those jagged things at the top are actually where the name grotesquery comes from. For some reason, one of the interior walls of the palace’s courtyard is an imitation of a limestone cave covered in stalactites. Go figure.
November 28th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
You have such a great eye Garrison for shape and form, light and tone. On the surface a very ordinary scene but presented by you transformed…I was transfixed by it. Phil
December 1st, 2007 at 1:13 am
i like the top of the roof, the rugged look, what was that up there?, was it a sculpted roof, or a old decaying building in the background?
December 4th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
This is so cool. I’m reminded of tightrope walkers.