Episode 8: Elector Johann Wilhelm II

The horseman’s monument of Elector Johann Wilhelm II, lovingly nicknamed Jan-Wellem in the Rhenian dialect, dominates the market place. Born in Düsseldorf in 1658, he later resided at the former Palace of Düsseldorf. He was a huge advocate of culture and arts and contributed to the international recognition of his hometown.He founded the renowned Düsseldorf Art Gallery featuring the works of Rubens, Tizian and Rembrandt, and built an opera house in which the most famous artists of the epoch performed. He had the castle adorned with gigantic murals and sculptures, and contributed to an economic boom for craftsmen and artists in the city.Because of his love for his hometown, to which he remained loyal until his death in 1716, and his close relationship with its citizens, he was relatively popular. The memorial he had built by his royal sculptor Gabriel Grupello was erected in 1711 while he was still alive. The base was built in 1830 and financed with donations by the citizens of Düsseldorf.
Photo Marktplatz (Düsseldorf) by Anıl Öztaş is licensed under  CC BY-SA 3.0