Johann Michael Fischer

Johann Michael Fischer (born 18 February 1692, Burglengenfeld, Upper Palatinate; died 6 May 1766 in Munich) was a German architect in the late Baroque period. [He should not be confused with the sculptor of the same name from Dillingen an der Donau, who lived from 1717 to 1801]

He is a major representative of south German Baroque architects. He studied in Bohemia and combined Bohemian elements with Bavarian Baroque traditions. He often co-operated with the most gifted Bavarian artists of his time, such as Cosmas Damian Asam and Egid Quirin Asam, Johann Joseph Christian, Johann Michael Feuchtmayer, Matthäus Günther, Ignaz Günther, Franz Joseph Spiegler, Johann Baptist Straub, and Johann Baptist Zimmermann.

Fischer is buried in the Frauenkirche in Munich.

Main Works

Fischer designed 32 churches and 23 monasteries in southern Germany. ["Germany: A Phaidon Cultural Guide". Oxford: Phaidon, 1985. p. 45. ISBN 0-7148-2354-6.] Among these, the best-known are the following.

Bavaria

*Aufhausen—Pilgrimage Church of Maria Schnee (1736–1751)
*Benediktbeuern—Anastasia Chapel in the Church of St. Benedikt (1750–1758), considered a jewel of Baroque architecture ["Germany: A Phaidon Cultural Guide," p. 96.]
*Dießen am Ammersee—Church of St. Maria (completed 1739)
*Fürstenzell—Church of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin (completed 1728)
*Munich—Franciscan Monastery Church of St. Anna im Lehel (consecrated 1737)
*Munich—Parish Church of St. Michael (1737–1752)
*Niederalteich—Benedictine Monastery of St. Mauritius (first commission for Fischer) (1724–1726)
*Osterhofen—Papal Basilica of St. Margaretha (1727–1740)
*Ottobeuren—Benedictine Monastery Church of the Holy Trinity (1737–1766), considered one of the most magnificent churches of the Baroque era ["Germany: A Phaidon Cultural Guide," p. 584.]
*Rott am Inn—Benedictine Abbey Church of St. Marinus and St. Anianus (1759–1767)

Baden-Württemberg

*Kisslegg—Neues Schloss (New Castle) (1721–1727)
*Wiblingen Abbey—Benedictine Monastery Church of St. Martin (1714–1783), built by Johann Georg Specht based on designs by Fischer
*Zwiefalten—Zwiefalten Abbey (1741–1747), considered a model of integrated Baroque design ["Germany: A Phaidon Cultural Guide," p. 776.]

Disputed Works

Several works have been attributed to Fischer that are now disputed, although his style was an obvious influence:

*Erling-Andechs—Pilgrimage Church Mariae Verkündiging and Monastery
*Haigerloch—Pilgrimage Church of St. Anne
*Murnau—Parish Church of St. Nikolaus

References