Background
Andreas Schlüter was born on July 13, 1659 as the son of a sculptor Wilhelm and Regina Schlüter in Gdańsk, where he was baptized on July 13th.
Andreas Schlüter was born on July 13, 1659 as the son of a sculptor Wilhelm and Regina Schlüter in Gdańsk, where he was baptized on July 13th.
Schlüter grew up in Danzig, where he was taught by the sculptor David Christoph Saporius. The latter had immigrated from the Palatinate and followed Schlüter in 1702 together with other artists from Gdansk to Berlin.
In 1694 Schlüter was working in Berlin as a sculptor, apparently called there by the prince-elector of Brandenburg, Frederick III, who later became King Frederick I of Prussia.
In 1695 Schlüter was sent on a brief study trip to France and, in 1696, on one to Italy at the expense of the elector.
These heads were largely produced by his assistants after his models.
In 1696 Schlüter began his designs for the bronze equestrian monument to the King's father, the Great Elector, his most famous work in sculpture.
This overlife-size statue was executed between 1698 and 1700, and the four enchained warriors, symbolizing the four temperaments, at its base were completed in 1708.
The monument was originallyon the Long Bridge, but after World War II it was placed in front of the Charlottenburg Palace.
Inspired by such monuments as the Marcus Aurelius on the Capitol in Rome and François Girardon's equestrian statue of Louis XIV, the monument of the Great Elector is noteworthy for its great vitality and movement.
Yet the dynamism of its large forms is more reminiscent of Gian Lorenzo Bernini than the aforementioned classical or classicizing examples.
In 1699 Schlüter was appointed surveyor general of works for the elector, in charge of all buildings, and began work on a new palace on the island in the Spree, the famous Berlin Schloss.
For it he designed not only the massive block of the structure itself but also all decorative details and the interiors.
Those parts that were after Schlüter's designs were the Great Court, the Great Portal, and the main rooms of the first floor.
All revealed Schlüter's basically sculptural approach to architectural problems: his tendency to enliven large areas through the dramatic use of strongly projecting articulating elements.
The sculptural decoration of the stairway and the ceiling of the Hall of the Knights (Rittersaal), representing the four continents, were also his.
The Schloss, although less damaged during World War II than many other buildings in Berlin, was the victim of political considerations and was demolished by the East German authorities in 1950.
In Berlin, Schlüter also designed and executed such works as the pulpit in St. Mary's Church (1703), the Alte Post (1701-1704; destroyed in the late 19th century), and the Münzturm (1706), a water tower attached to the Mint.
Although he demolished the water tower himself and sought to justify his errors, his enemies at court thoroughly discredited him.
By 1710 he was in disgrace at court and was permitted to work only as a sculptor.
The sarcophagus of the elector (1713) was his last important work in Berlin. In 1714 Schlüter left for St. Petersburg, where he had been offered employment.
He died there the same year shortly after his arrival.
