Josef Mocker

22 November 1835, Cítoliby – 16 January 1899, Prague

Josef Mocker came from a German-speaking family, but grew up in a Czech environment. His entire life he faced problems connected with his Austrian origins, caused by both the German and the Czech side. Mocker studied at Prague Polytechnic (modern day ČVUT) and then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. While still a student, he won the Hagenmüller award for excellent student achievement. After graduation and upon return from his study trips, he settled in Podmokly (modern day Děčín) and worked with František Antonín Thun. He also worked as a teacher of drawing and building. From 1872 he lived in Prague. He was a member of the Association of Engineers and Architects and of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts. He actively participated in the creation of a system for the protection of Czech cultural monuments and was a member of the Committee for the Survey of Monuments in Prague. He was a widely recognised architect who received a number of awards during his life (Order of the Iron Crown and Order of Saint Gregory the Great), however, after his death he was criticised for his purist approach to restoration.

Mocker was a prolific architect whose work was versatile and always carefully executed. His first significant experience was the reconstruction of Saint Stephen's Cathedral, on which he worked under supervision by his Viennese professor Friedrich von Schmidt. He understood the reconstruction of the cathedral as a restoration of the entire building to its hypothetical Gothic appearance, which would unify and complete the great work by previous architects. His project was implemented only partly (the large tower remained Baroque). Mocker’s other well-made, precisely and carefully executed reconstructions of Czech historical monuments, e.g. the Powder Tower, the Old New Synagogue, Saint Stephen's Church, bridge towers in the Lesser Quarter and in the Old Town, are also inspired by Gothic. His reconstructions outside of Prague include Karlštejn, Křivoklát, Konopiště, as well as churches and cathedrals (Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Ústí nad Labem, Church of Saint Lawrence in Vysoké Mýto, etc.). His own projects include the Church of Saint Ludmila and the Church of Saint Procopius in Prague (both in collaboration with František Mikš).