Johann Blasius Santini-Aichel (1677-1723) came from an Italian family settled in Prague. His work is characterised by an excellent knowledge of contemporary architectural trends, in particular the radical architecture of Guarino Guarini and Francesco Borromini, and a deep connection to the legacy of Gothic architecture. Some of Santini's works are in the spirit of the fusion of Baroque and Gothic. Others are characterised by a creative and highly distinctive approach to the legacy of the 17th century. Together with Johann Lukas von Hildedbrandt, Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach and the Dientzenhofer family of builders, Santini is one of the most remarkable masters of the early 18th century in Central Europe.