The new book presents the work of the builder and pioneer of pencil production, Hardtmuth

Brno - His buildings adorn the Lednice-Valtice area, his discoveries improved the pencil. A versatile personality of Joseph Hardtmuth is remembered by a new book. It was published by the National Heritage Institute under the title Hardtmuth, architect of the princes of Liechtenstein. The book by a creative team led by art historian Lenka Šabatová describes the architect's well-known and previously overlooked buildings and projects in a broader context, the institute informed in a press release.

Hardtmuth lived from 1758 to 1816, establishing himself as the princely architect and construction director for the Liechtensteins. He oversaw all their buildings on Moravian, East Bohemian, and Lower Austrian estates. In the Lednice-Valtice area, he designed or realized several buildings, such as the Minaret, Belvedere, or Diana's Temple. In addition, he was also an inventor and a skilled entrepreneur. The production of pencils under the Hardtmuth Koh-i-noor brand continues to this day.

The book begins with an introduction to the life of Joseph Hardtmuth and touches on his inventions and business activities. The second, more extensive section describes the construction business of the Liechtensteins at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Besides Hardtmuth, it also notes other architects, engineers, and builders who worked in the princely service.

The final part of the book consists of a catalog of Hardtmuth's work, including 77 known realizations. The book contains all known Hardtmuth plans from the collections of the Moravian State Archive in Brno and princely collections. The plans and project documentation are accompanied by visual material, including contemporary views and paintings depicting Hardtmuth's summer houses, castles, temples, and obelisks.

The personality and work of Hardtmuth is currently also highlighted by the National Technical Museum in a exhibition, which will last in Prague until March 26. In addition to his architecture, it also follows the business journey "from graphite to pencil empire."