Willem van den Blocke

Willem van den Blocke (alternative names: Willem van den Block, Willem van den Bloocke, Wilhelm von dem Block, Wilhelm von dem Blocke, Wilhem van Block) (c. 1550 - 1628) was a sculptor and architect of Flemish descent who was active in the Baltics and worked in a mannerist style.

He was born in Mechelen, the son of Franciscus van den Blocke who was a sculptor. Willem received his first training in the art of stone carving and sculpting in his father's workshop in Mechelen. He then likely moved for further training to the workshop of Cornelis Floris de Vriendt in Antwerp.

In 1569 he went to Königsberg (Kaliningrad). He was part of a group of pupils and assistants of Cornelis Floris, which included Gert van Egen, Robert Coppens and Philips Brandin, who moved to the Baltic region to take advantage of Floris’ network and the international popularity of the Floris style. The Baltic region was at the time politically relatively stable when compared to Willem's native home, the Spanish Netherlands, which were rife with religious persecution. The van Block family were Mennonites and were particularly vulnerable to such persecution in their home country. In the Baltics there was also less competition from other artists.

In Konigsberg van den Blocke worked on the monumental tomb of Albert, Duke in Prussia, designed by Floris, in the local cathedral. In 1581 he designed and executed the tomb of princess Elizabeth, the first wife of George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, also in the Königsberg Cathedral.

After 14 years of service to the Margrave, he received a recommendation letter and then went to work in Poland. He received many commissions such as the design and execution of the tomb of Christopher Báthory, brother of the King of Poland Stephen Báthory. He completed this commission from 1581 to 1583 in Wartenburg (Barczewo).

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