Studying the facade of the Church of St. Thomas in Brno facilitates an in-depth analysis of Baroque architectural idioms in Central Europe. By carrying out a comparative study, it is possible to detect and examine the common features and those derived from earlier Baroque churches. In doing so, one can understand Baroque architecture’s exceptional diffusion and stratification and the role of religious orders in this dissemination.
The Church of St. Thomas (Kostel svatého Tomáše) in Brno traces its origins to 1350 when it was established as part of an Augustinian monastery by Jan Jindřich Lucemburský, brother of Emperor Charles IV. Intended as a dynastic burial site, the church became the final resting place only for Jindřich and his son. The church was then consecrated in 1356 by the Bishop of Olomouc, Jan Očko z Vlašimi. Continue reading