Johann Grael (9 January 1708 - 27 September 1740) was a German architect, one of the most important architects working under Frederick William I of Prussia. [1]
Johann Grael (9 January 1708 - 27 September 1740) was a German architect, one of the most important architects working under Frederick William I of Prussia. [1]
Born in Quilitz, he studied under Philipp Wihelm and Martin Heinrich Böhme. His first work in Berlin was a design for the church tower of the Petrikirche, but in 1730 - when construction was almost complete - a lightening storm hit it and he could not complete it. [2] Grael was put in charge of rebuilding the structure but in 1733 it was reassigned to Gerlach, citing his failure to meet deadlines. [2] The bell tower collapsed in the following years and Grael was left in a difficult situation, forcing him to flee the country. [2] The church was damaged during the Second World War and demolished in 1964.
Before his exile he managed to complete the towers at the Sophienkirche in Berlin and the Heilige-Geist-Kirche in Potsdam, in a style consistent with the Dutch school. [1] In his last years Grael worked as a consultant and a designer to various projects but -thanks to his sudden death in Bayreuth - these were completed by J. G. Weise. [2]