The Ljubljana palace of the Auersperg princes
Keywords:
the Ljubljana palace of the Auersperg princes, Wolf Engelbert count Auersperg, Johann Weikhard prince Auersperg, patronage, 17th century architecture, Abondio Donino jr.Abstract
The 110 years ago demolished palace of the Auersperg princes was the most monumental and definitely not insignificant example of the profane baroque architecture in Ljubljana. Despite these facts, the knowledge about its construction was poor and opinions of authors partly opposing. Based on accounting books of the town brickworks, other written and artistic sources, dynamics of acquisition of the building plot, and architectural replications, a reconstruction was possible of the course of the construction and of the form of the palace in the period of the constructor count Wolf Engelbert Auersperg (1610–1673). It was also established that works were in gradual process from the late 30s of the 17th century on until nearly his death. An analysis of historical and social circumstances reveals that most probably prince Johann Weikhard Auersperg (1615–1677) brother of the orderer and inheritor took care of the decoration of the festival hall as by painting the fall of Faeton he visualised the end of his own political career.