Karl von Liechtenstein-Castelcorn was one of the important figures of the Moravian Baroque. In 1664, he was elected Bishop of Olomouc, and for three decades he was the head of an extensive diocese, which he had to restore spiritually and economically after the devastating effects of the Thirty Years’ War. As part of his pastoral activities, he supported recatholicization, founded schools, and ensured the proper administration of the diocese. Apart from his spiritual activities, his name is most often associated with his role as a great reconstruction initiator, collector, and patron of the arts, who gave Moravia a new cultural identity.
Karl von Liechtenstein-Castelcorn
Shortly after his appointment, the prince-bishop undertook the renovation of the bishop’s palace in Olomouc, which had been damaged by fire, and transformed it into a dignified city residence. However, he paid even greater attention to Kroměříž, which he elevated to the bishop’s main residence. The Kroměříž Chateau, destroyed during the war, was completely rebuilt during his episcopate. The plans for the reconstruction of the chateau were designed by the imperial architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla, who based his design on the original plans of his predecessor, the architect Filiberto Lucchese. A monumental four-winged building with an enclosed courtyard and unique spaces on the ground floor – sala terrena and grottos, also known as artificial caves – was created. The sala terrena, which provided a transition between the Chateau and the Chateau Garden, was used for entertainment and celebrations. Here, the bishop fulfilled his representative ambitions with rich interior decorations, which were created by leading artists from Central Europe. These included, for example, the sculptor and stucco artist Baldassarre Fontana, the painter Paolo Pagani, and the sculptors Tommaso Rues and Fedele Raggi. The sala terrena and grotto spaces, with their first-class artistic quality and sophisticated iconographic program by Martin Antonín Lublinský, are unparalleled in Europe.
The collecting activities of Karl von Liechtenstein-Castelcorn were also impressive. He made a sizeable acquisition in 1673 when he purchased a large and highly valued collection of paintings. With this achievement, he laid the foundation for one of the most important chateau picture galleries in Central Europe. For example, he acquired Titian’s famous painting The Flaying of Marsyas, which is to this day considered one of the most valuable paintings in our country. Nonetheless, the bishop gradually expanded the collection with further purchases and direct commissions. His cultural patronage was also evident in the construction of the library.
Karl von Liechtenstein-Castelcorn, a spiritual shepherd and secular prince, succeeded in combining political and religious power with cultural patronage. Owing to his efforts, buildings and works of art of extraordinary value were created, testifying to the ambitions and cultural outlook of this exceptional church dignitary.
