Friedrich Wilhelm von Gärtner
Friedrich Wilhelm von Gärtner was born in Koblenz in December 1791. After studying architecture at the art academies in Munich and Paris, he quickly became one of the most important architects in the Kingdom of Bavaria under Ludwig I. With his classicist style, he left his mark on the Munich cityscape like no other: he built the Ludwig Church. In addition, buildings such as today's Bavarian State Library, the university building, the Feldherrenhalle and the Siegestor were erected under his direction. In 1822, King Max I Joseph appointed the then 31-year-old architecture professor as artistic director of the manufactory - a surprising and at the same time accurate choice. The magnificent vase he designed for the king's 66th birthday, which was also his first work for the manufactory, brought Gärtner extraordinary success.