How did Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach train as an artist before becoming an architect?

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach’s artistic training began in his father’s workshop, where he learned the skills of a provincial sculptor and turner. Around the age of 16, he moved to Rome, where he gained the significant opportunity to enter the studio of the renowned Baroque sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini.1

During his time in Rome, Fischer developed a deep understanding of ancient art and the emerging scientific methods of archaeology, which later informed his own archaeological reconstructions. Furthermore, he dedicated himself to the study of Baroque art and architecture, as well as classical and Renaissance traditions, before eventually transitioning into his celebrated career as an architect.1