Carl Gustav Hermann Gladenbeck (1827-1918)
is the founder of one of the most famous foundries ever. He is also one of the best-known picture casters ever. He created the famous "Goldelse", better known as "Victoria", standing on top of the Victory Column in Berlin, Germany. The "Goldelse" was designed by Friedrich Drake. Gladenbeck was born on January 24, 1827 in Berlin. He learned the handcraft of bronze casting since 1841 at the famous company Egells. Egells was once founded by Franz Anton Jakob Egells, the pioneer of modern machine building.
The life of Carl Gustav Hermann Gladenbeck
He worked for Christoph Heinrich Fischer after he finished his traineeship at Egells and took part in creating the sculpture "Amazone" made by August Kiss, that is still exhibited in front of the "Altes Museum" (Old Museum) in Germany. When he was 24 years old he started his own business with an own foundry in Berlin. He also married Emilie Auguste Pauline Schirrmann, daughter of a shoemaker and the mother of his future children.
Influences on his works
Luckily he was known as a good artist in the circle of the sculptors of Berlin and from there he easily got first contract work. He got in contact with Christian Daniel Rauch, who ordered three smaller versions of the sculpture of Friedrich Wilhelm, which was standing "under the linden tress" since 1851. He also ordered a sculpture of Kant for his birthplace Königsberg.
In 1857 the opportunity to overtake the Royal Foundry was offered to him - he accepted. A so-called rush of monuments and sculptures was just beginning at this time. Gladenbeck did a lot commission artwork, like sculptures, monuments, many fountains and some sculptures for cemeteries. The foundry of Gladenbeck was now known all over Germany and got more commission work day by day. His both sons took part in the business and the company got named "Gladenbeck and Son". Its great founder Carl Gustav Hermann Gladenbeck died on November 11, 1918 in Friedrichshagen, Germany.