Grimm Family

The Family of Builders and Architects

The Grimms moved to Brno at the beginning of the 18th century and lived next to the Capuchin monastery for over a hundred years. Over time, not only working relationships but especially friendly relations developed between the family of builders and the monks.

Moritz Grimm (1669–1757) bought the middle of three houses in 1707, which stood next to the Capuchin church towards today's Masaryk Street. A few years later, he added another floor to it and completely reconstructed the entire building. With his wife Ursula († 1746), they brought five children into the world. The oldest, Johann Jacob (1703–1769), became a Capuchin priest under the religious name Franz Ludwig of Brno. The second-born, Anna Katharina (1708–?), was one of the benefactors of the local Capuchin monastery, and after the death of her sister-in-law, she took care of the household of her younger brother Franz Anton (1710–1784), an architect. Similarly, the third son, Georg Philip (1712–1773), joined the Capuchins and adopted the name Franz Ludwig of Brno. However, we know nothing specific about the youngest, Maria Rosalia (1714–?).

Moritz Grimm bequeathed the house next to the Capuchins to his son Franz Anton, then it passed to his grandson Philip (1754–1791) and his wife Josefa (1758–1818). The last owner was Moritz's great-grandson Franz. At the beginning of the 20th century, all three houses were demolished, and in their place, an apartment building was erected, known as the Valentin Falkensteiner Charitable House.

Moritz Grimm

Moritz Grimm (1669–1757) was born in Achdorf near Landshut in Lower Bavaria and was a builder and designer. In Brno, he quickly gained a wide clientele. At the beginning of the 18th century, he worked for the Dominican order, including the construction of the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre and a new library. He then spent two decades with the Franciscans, designing the Loretto Chapel with the Santa Casa and the Holy Stairs, and conducting the Baroque reconstruction of their conventual church. During the same period, he participated in the completion and reconstruction of the Provincial House (now the New Town Hall).

Perhaps Moritz Grimm's most significant commission was the construction of the Augustinian monastery with the reconstruction of the Order's church of St. Thomas. He also oversaw the construction of the Dietrichstein Palace (Count's Palace), which stood on the corner of today's Masaryk and Josefská Streets until the early 20th century, as well as the reconstruction of the Theatre in the Tavern (now the Reduta Theatre) and the Schrattenbach Palace (now the headquarters of the Jiří Mahen Library). He assisted the Capuchins with minor construction works, such as leading the construction of a new section of the tomb in 1726.

Moritz and Ursula were buried as benefactors beneath the Capuchin church. At the same place, the remains of their three sons and daughters-in-law Maria Anna were also laid to rest.

Franz Anton Grimm

Franz Anton Grimm (1710–1784) studied painting and architecture and also completed study stays in Rome, Bologna, Turin, and Paris. He settled permanently in Brno in the 1740s. With his wife, Maria Anna Josepha Knurr (1725–1757), he had seven children. The oldest, Moritz (1746–1827), joined the Capuchin order as Franz Ludwig. The youngest son, Philip (1754–1791), then inherited his father's estate.

Franz Anton not only became a recognized and sought-after architect but also made history as the owner of an extensive collection of architectural books and plans. Among the many projects he undertook, let us mention the Church of St. Leopold with the Monastery of the Brothers Hospitallers in Brno, the Beheading of St. John the Baptist Church in Hranice na Moravě, the Augustinian Monastery Church in Šternberk, and the Chateau in Napajedla.

For the Capuchins, he designed the expansion of the church with the Chapel of St. Fidelis and the new vaulting of the temple (1753). Under his leadership, a new, splendid library was built in the monastery complex in 1763–1764, by Capuchin standards. Franz Anton not only designed it but most likely also financed it. All in collaboration with his native brother Georg, who was serving as the provincial of the order at that time. Franz Anton also covered the costs of creating five sculptures of Franciscan and Capuchin saints by the Brno artist Johann Adam Nessmann, which adorn the terrace in front of the church.