The Czech Order of the Knights of the Cross with Red Star during the hiát baroque - František Matouš Böhmba 1722-1750
Abstract
The monographic study "Knights of the Cross with the Red Star During the Generalate of František Matěj Böhmb in the High Baroque Period of 1722 - 1750" is a professional art-scientific publication that maps the artistic patronage of the Grand Master and General of the Military Order of the Red Star Crucifers in Prague, František Matouš Böhmb (Grandmaster 1722-1750). A native of Lubenec, village in West Bohemia, was elected by Crucifers to the function of superior of the Order on the Feast of St.
Agnes Přemyslovna on 2nd March, 1722. He took a well-led spiritual organization and, for his education, in his philosophy, theology and other sciences, brought his Order to unprecedented prosperity both in the field of hospital care and in the promotion of art.
If his prominent predecessor, Jiří Ignác Pospíchal (Grandmaster 1696-1699) revived the declining Order with a new reform, his followers (Franchimont, Beinlich) raised this community immensely, which the Grandmaster Böhmb completed during the High Baroque period. Because of his kind nature, he gained the support of religious confreres and other prelates and nobles, even the common people, including hospitals.
With this development, he decided to advance the expansion of his "Order" beyond the borders of the Lands of St. Wenceslas Crown and brought his brothers to Bratislava and Vienna.
He also established hospitals with new commendas here. The foundation of the Church of Sts.
Karel Boromejský in Vienna was very important. He gained an important building of the imperial church directly from Emperor Charles VI, with whom he was in close contact, to which he came during his imperial stays in Karlovy Vary.
Apart from building activities (K. Dienthenofer, K.
I. Dientzehnofer, etc.) and orders of works by famous painters (P.
Brandl, V.V. Reiner etc.) and sculptors, one cannot forget his support for musical events.
He supported this activity mainly in the church of st. Francis at Charles Bridge to such an extent that this temple became one of the main performers of the highest quality music production (first performance of Haendl, Vivaldi, etc.)