Schinkel’s plain understatement and sense of proportion make him a vital precursor to modernist architecture. He was taught by Friedrich Gilly’s father David, lived in their house, and became great friends with Friedrich (his real mentor) and other young architects, including Langhans; he also completed some of Friedrich Gilly’s projects following his early death. Staying in Rome after studying, he befriended Wilhelm von Humboldt and Koch, later remodelling Schloss Tegel for Humboldt. Humboldt’s brother Alexander, Fichte, the Arnims and Brentano were friends and associates in Berlin during the ‘golden age’ of Prussian culture, to which he contributed so substantially.