João Frederico Ludovice

Who was João Frederico Ludovice?

Johann Friedrich Ludwig, known in Portugal as João Frederico Ludovice, was a German born architect and goldsmith.

Ludovice was born in Hohenhart. In 1698 he went to Italy, where he married and converted to Catholicism, changing his name to Ludovici. He worked in the altars of the Church of Saint Ignatius of Jesus and received the influences of masters as Carlo Fontana and Andrea Pozzo. The Jesuits admired his work and talent, inviting him to work in Portugal. There he became famous by the project for the Mafra National Palace for the Portuguese king João V, among many other monuments, including churches and the tower of the University of Coimbra.

He latter adopted Portuguese citizenship. He died in 1752.