Petr Parler

Peter Parler
Self-portrait in stone at St. Vitus Cathedral, c. 1370
Born	1333 Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
Died	13 July 1399(1399-07-13) (aged 68–69) Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia, Holy Roman Empire
Nationality	German, Bohemian
Other names	Peter von Gemünd Petr Parléř
Occupation	Architect
Children	Johann Parler Wenzel Parler
Parent(s)	Heinrich Parler the Elder
Buildings	Frauenkirche St. Vitus Cathedral Charles Bridge
Design	Late Gothic

Peter Parler (German: Peter von Gemünd, Czech: Petr Parléř, Latin: Petrus de Gemunden in Suevia; 1333 – 13 July 1399) was a German-Bohemian architect and sculptor from the Parler family of master builders. Along with his father, Heinrich Parler, he is one of the most prominent and influential craftsmen of the Middle Ages. Born and apprenticed in the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Peter worked at several important late Medieval building sites, including Strasbourg, Cologne, and Nuremberg. After 1356 he lived in Prague, capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia and seat of the Holy Roman Empire, where he created his most famous works: St. Vitus Cathedral and the Charles Bridge.

Little is known about the earliest youth of Peter Parler. His father, Heinrich Parler the Elder, was a stonemason at Cologne Cathedral. Around 1333, when Peter was born, Heinrich was invited by the free imperial city of Schwäbisch Gmünd to take over construction of a large new parish church, Holy Cross Minster. Peter was already working alongside his father on the church when the cornerstone of the choir was laid in 1351. This is presumably also where his apprenticeship was completed. The division of the choir by a continuous balustrade demonstrates what would become his trademark style. The arched section at the southern portal of the church can also be attributed to Peter. The designs developed by the father and son team at Holy Cross were unique and mark an important milestone in late Gothic architecture and sculpture.