Erhard Brielmaier
Encyclopedia
Erhard Brielmaier was a renowned and prominent architect within United States and Canada from late 19th century through the 20th century. Erhard Brielmaier designed and built more churches and hospitals than any other architect.
. His mother immigrated to America with Erhard and his siblings in 1850 to join their father (a carpenter) who had settled in White Oak, Ohio
, (now a suburb of Cincinnati. On November 27, 1860, Erhard married Theresia (nee Haag) and they had 13 children. In 1873, the clan moved to Milwaukee and Erhard Brielmaier worked his way from carpenter, sculpturer and altar-builder to that of an architect with a national reputation.
Erhard's sons (Bernard Anselm, Joseph Mary, and Leo Anthony) received special training in architecture, and together with them he formed the organization of Erhard Brielmaier & Sons Co., Architects, which constructed over a thousand Catholic Churches, schools and hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. Erhard had architecture offices in Chicago
and Milwaukee
in the late 19th century and 20th century. Where Louis Sullivan
at the time concentrated on business commercial architecture buildings and Frank Lloyd Wright
was designing houses, Erhard Brielmaier and Sons focused on the architecture of churches, hospitals (such as the Mayo Clinic Hospital
in Rochester, Minnesota
) and schools and university buildings (such as the architecture at Marquette University
).
In the Milwaukee area there are about thirty designated historical buildings status given to this architect and his sons. One of the most notable is Basilica of St. Josaphat
within Milwaukee based on St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome
. It was designed with conservation in mind by using the materials from the dismantled Federal Building in Chicago. You can still view the Chicago Federal Building's postal emblems on the brass ornaments upon the entrance doors. At the time St. Josaphat's would boast of having the fifth largest cupola in the world. St. Josaphat church would later be conferred the dignity of basilica.
Erhard was much concerned about the education of his children who would follow the Brielmaier tradition and become artists. Erhard's oldest son, John (Johannes) Erhard Brielmaier (September 4, 1861–September 9, 1913) studied wood sculpturing in Stuttgart. Johannes' artwork is prevalent throughout the United States, most notably in altars and sculptors. These artworks are known for their depth and elaborate carvings of magnificent detail.
Erhard's daughter Clothilde Elisabeth Brielmaier (March 4, 1867–March 29, 1915) spent several years in Munich and Rome studying art. Clothilde's artwork can be viewed in Europe as well as the United States. In art history records she is credited with being the first woman to 'own' her own art studio in the United States and was credited as being an artist that could easily stand on her own alongside the male artists of her time. Much of Clothilde Brielmaier's paintings (most notably the church murals within chapels and churches) have been destroyed over the years, either due to natural disaster or the 'simplification policy' of the Catholic Church. Some of her large portraits can be found in historical museums throughout the United States.
The following generation of Brielmaier artists to follow their grandfather Erhard Brielmaier into artworks of outstanding acclaim:
One of outstanding merit is Sr. Thomasita Fessler sometimes referred (paintings artwork signatures) as SMT, Sr. T or Sr. Thomasita. Born Majella Nicola Fessler on February 23, 1912 died April 1, 2005. One of the most publicly known artists within this family, she was profiled by Life magazine in a feature story written by Jaqueline Mitchard. Previous to the publication Sr. Thomasita was being asked by the church to reconsider whether she should she remain in the church due to what the church hierarchy thought they were 'seeing' in her artwork. Sr. Thomasita's reply was, "if there was a sexual nature they were 'seeing' in her artwork, they should look within themselves for the answer to what 'they' were 'seeing'". Sr. Thomasita established the art department at Cardinal Stritch College becoming the chair of the art department as well as founding the much acclaimed and awarded Studio San Damiano based on her philosophy of, "Nature is God's art and art is man's nature" as well as the Brielmaier tradition of, "A child who learns to create will not destroy."
Carl (Mary) R. Brielmaier (grandson of Erhard) continued the church painting tradition. Carl was born May 12, 1892 he left his immediate family before a teen and studied alongside Clothilde Brielmaier. Carl was known to use many different names within his life and work including the name Erhard so the extent of artwork credited to him is variable. Much of the church painting he is definitively known to have created is within the midwestern United States mostly in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. Carl R. Brielmaier only had about four fingers on both his hands and being German it was rumoured that this was due to his painting Jesus 'not the right hue' in a church mural. When confronted by the nazis Carl was said to answer, " Jesus is disgraced by what His children are doing to His other children." Carl R. Brielmaier passed down this art tradition to his daughter Rose Brielmaier.
He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery
in Milwaukee, where both the historic Gothic Revival style gate house and Romanesque chapel were designed by him.
History
Brielmaier was born at Neufra near Rottweil, Wuerttemberg GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. His mother immigrated to America with Erhard and his siblings in 1850 to join their father (a carpenter) who had settled in White Oak, Ohio
White Oak, Ohio
White Oak is a census-designated place in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,277 at the 2000 census.-Geography:White Oak is located at ....
, (now a suburb of Cincinnati. On November 27, 1860, Erhard married Theresia (nee Haag) and they had 13 children. In 1873, the clan moved to Milwaukee and Erhard Brielmaier worked his way from carpenter, sculpturer and altar-builder to that of an architect with a national reputation.
Erhard's sons (Bernard Anselm, Joseph Mary, and Leo Anthony) received special training in architecture, and together with them he formed the organization of Erhard Brielmaier & Sons Co., Architects, which constructed over a thousand Catholic Churches, schools and hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. Erhard had architecture offices in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
in the late 19th century and 20th century. Where Louis Sullivan
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
at the time concentrated on business commercial architecture buildings and Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
was designing houses, Erhard Brielmaier and Sons focused on the architecture of churches, hospitals (such as the Mayo Clinic Hospital
Mayo Clinic Hospital
Mayo Clinic Hospital is a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida operated by the Mayo Clinic. The 214-bed inpatient facility, which opened in April 2008, also offers emergency care...
in Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
) and schools and university buildings (such as the architecture at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
).
In the Milwaukee area there are about thirty designated historical buildings status given to this architect and his sons. One of the most notable is Basilica of St. Josaphat
Basilica of St. Josaphat
The Basilica of St. Josaphat, located in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, is one of 62 minor basilicas found in the United States. In its grandeur and opulence it is an excellent example of the so-called Polish Cathedral style of church...
within Milwaukee based on St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. It was designed with conservation in mind by using the materials from the dismantled Federal Building in Chicago. You can still view the Chicago Federal Building's postal emblems on the brass ornaments upon the entrance doors. At the time St. Josaphat's would boast of having the fifth largest cupola in the world. St. Josaphat church would later be conferred the dignity of basilica.
Erhard was much concerned about the education of his children who would follow the Brielmaier tradition and become artists. Erhard's oldest son, John (Johannes) Erhard Brielmaier (September 4, 1861–September 9, 1913) studied wood sculpturing in Stuttgart. Johannes' artwork is prevalent throughout the United States, most notably in altars and sculptors. These artworks are known for their depth and elaborate carvings of magnificent detail.
Erhard's daughter Clothilde Elisabeth Brielmaier (March 4, 1867–March 29, 1915) spent several years in Munich and Rome studying art. Clothilde's artwork can be viewed in Europe as well as the United States. In art history records she is credited with being the first woman to 'own' her own art studio in the United States and was credited as being an artist that could easily stand on her own alongside the male artists of her time. Much of Clothilde Brielmaier's paintings (most notably the church murals within chapels and churches) have been destroyed over the years, either due to natural disaster or the 'simplification policy' of the Catholic Church. Some of her large portraits can be found in historical museums throughout the United States.
The following generation of Brielmaier artists to follow their grandfather Erhard Brielmaier into artworks of outstanding acclaim:
One of outstanding merit is Sr. Thomasita Fessler sometimes referred (paintings artwork signatures) as SMT, Sr. T or Sr. Thomasita. Born Majella Nicola Fessler on February 23, 1912 died April 1, 2005. One of the most publicly known artists within this family, she was profiled by Life magazine in a feature story written by Jaqueline Mitchard. Previous to the publication Sr. Thomasita was being asked by the church to reconsider whether she should she remain in the church due to what the church hierarchy thought they were 'seeing' in her artwork. Sr. Thomasita's reply was, "if there was a sexual nature they were 'seeing' in her artwork, they should look within themselves for the answer to what 'they' were 'seeing'". Sr. Thomasita established the art department at Cardinal Stritch College becoming the chair of the art department as well as founding the much acclaimed and awarded Studio San Damiano based on her philosophy of, "Nature is God's art and art is man's nature" as well as the Brielmaier tradition of, "A child who learns to create will not destroy."
Carl (Mary) R. Brielmaier (grandson of Erhard) continued the church painting tradition. Carl was born May 12, 1892 he left his immediate family before a teen and studied alongside Clothilde Brielmaier. Carl was known to use many different names within his life and work including the name Erhard so the extent of artwork credited to him is variable. Much of the church painting he is definitively known to have created is within the midwestern United States mostly in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. Carl R. Brielmaier only had about four fingers on both his hands and being German it was rumoured that this was due to his painting Jesus 'not the right hue' in a church mural. When confronted by the nazis Carl was said to answer, " Jesus is disgraced by what His children are doing to His other children." Carl R. Brielmaier passed down this art tradition to his daughter Rose Brielmaier.
He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Calvary Cemetery is the oldest existing Roman Catholic cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Owned by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, it is the final resting place for many of the city's early influential figures...
in Milwaukee, where both the historic Gothic Revival style gate house and Romanesque chapel were designed by him.