František Maxmilián Kaňka (19 August 1674 – 14 July 1766) was a Czech architect. He was among the most important and most prolific Baroque architects in the Czech lands.
Life
thumb|Krásný Dvůr Castle
František Maxmilián Kaňka was born in Prague on 19 August 1674. His father Vít Václav Kaňka was a builder who built the fortifications of New Town of Prague.
Kaňka became an apprentice of Paul Ignaz Bayer. He then lived abroad for a while (in Vienna and probably also in northern Italy). He was married twice. He married a second time at a relatively old age to a much younger wife. From 1733 or 1734, he no longer devoted himself to architecture and became a successful brewer. He was wealthy and had his offspring study law. He died in Prague on 14 July 1766, at the age of 91.
Work
thumb|St. Procopius Basilica in Třebíč
thumb|Clementinum Astronomical Tower
After his return from abroad, he collaborated with leading architects of his time such as Giovanni Battista Alliprandi and Jan Santini Aichel. In contrast to other architects, such as Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, he focused mainly on designing buildings and not on their construction. He also ofter collaborated with the painter Wenzel Lorenz Reiner.