Antonín Wiehl

26 April 1846, Plasy – 4 November 1910, Prague

Antonín Wiehl studied at Prague Polytechnic (modern day ČVUT) under Josef Zítek. However, he did not graduate, but started working in František Schmoranz’s construction company, where he earned valuable experience, mostly in restoration work. He briefly worked at the Polytechnic, as an assistant to professor of architecture Josef Niklas and organised numerous study trips abroad, especially to Italy, as well as to Czech towns and villages. From 1873 he worked as an independent builder and architect. His original contribution is the so-called Czech Neo-Renaissance, which became the dominant architectural style during the economic and cultural prosperity of the Czech society in the 1870s and 80s. Wiehl was one of the foremost representatives of the so-called Generation of the National Theatre. He was also socially active: he was appointed the first president of the Association of Engineers and Architects in 1883, he became a member of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts, he was the director of the City of Prague Museum. He also published many works and protected cultural heritage, laying foundations for monument conservation in Bohemia. At the end of his life, afflicted by deafness, he focused on archaeology, painting, antiquarianism, museology and monument conservation.

Wiehl was inspired primarily by Italian Renaissance, which he combined with Czech tradition. He was also interested in folk architecture. He often collaborated on his construction projects with foremost fine artists, e.g. František Ženíšek, Josef Václav Myslbek, Mikoláš Aleš, etc. His numerous works include the Old Town Water Tower, the Bedřich Smetana Museum, arcades and the tomb of prominent figures Slavín at Vyšehrad Cemetery, the Municipal Savings Bank in Rytířská Street and his own, so-called Wiehl’s House on Wenceslas Square in Prague. Wiehl also worked on monuments (Jan Žižka in Čáslav) and tombs (the Daubek family). He was a very prolific architect whose work influenced a large number of future architects.