1. Johann Balthasar Neumann, usually known as Balthasar Neumann, was a German architect and military artillery engineer who developed a refined brand of Baroque architecture, fusing Austrian, Bohemian, Italian, and French elements to design some of the most impressive buildings of the period, including the Wurzburg Residence and the Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Balthasar Neumann created measurement instruments, a map of Wurzburg and some drawings for a new abbey at Ebrach Abbey.
Balthasar Neumann's career as an architect took off under Johann Philipp Franz von Schonborn, Prince-Bishop of Wurzburg, who asked the young engineer in 1719 to plan, and in 1720 to lead construction of, his new palace, the Wurzburg Residence.
Back at Wurzburg, Balthasar Neumann started to build a hunting lodge known as Madelhofen.
Balthasar Neumann named Neumann director of all military, civilian and ecclesiastical construction in both bishoprics and in 1729 and 1739 ordered him to Vienna, where he exchanged views with Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, von Schonborn's architect, whose influence is visible in some parts of the Residence and at the hunting lodge of Werneck.
Balthasar Neumann worked for Damian Hugo Philipp von Schonborn and Franz Georg von Schonborn.
Balthasar Neumann built the Corps de Logis of the Schloss Bruchsal, with its notable stairway.
Balthasar Neumann emphasized the use of the rotunda as a central feature of his churches.
Balthasar Neumann worked on St Paulinus' Church in Trier, designing most of the internal elements.
Balthasar Neumann was depicted by Tiepolo in the ceiling fresco above the stairway of the Residence, in pseudo-military uniform, leaning over a cannon.
Balthasar Neumann had boasted that the ceiling was so well constructed that not even the roar of a cannon would make the roof fall.