Bager, Johann Jakob the Elder

master builder

Born: around 1670 in Wiesbaden

died: 01.08.1739 in Wiesbaden

Bager received his training under Maximilian von Welsch, entered Nassau's service and advanced to become the princely Nassau court architect and master builder. He supervised the construction of Biebrich Palace from 1701 under von Welsch and his successor Friedrich Joachim Stengel. He was also responsible for the extensions to today's main Protestant church in Biebrich and the Mauritiuskirche. He was involved in the extension of the choir of the former collegiate church of St. Martin, the so-called Union Church in Idstein (1724-26), built the Protestant churches in Dotzheim (1718) and Naurod (1727-30) and was responsible for the conversion of the Protestant church in Bierstadt (1731-34). Bager was also active in today's Saarland.

His son Philipp Daniel Bager (around 1700-after 1755) became a painter and from 1734-50, under the supervision of Stengel, carried out work in Biebrich Palace, the Fasanerie hunting lodge and the Mauritius Church. His son Johann Georg Bager (1701-1770) followed in his father's footsteps and became building inspector around 1740. In 1740, he took over the management of the construction of the west wing of Biebrich Palace and was also involved in the extension of the choir of St. Mauritius Church between 1740 and 1750.