Erasmus Grasser (c. 1450 – c. 1515) was a leading master builder and
sculptor
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
in the early 16th century.
Biography
He developed in an animated and realistic style, furthering on the works of
Nikolaus Gerhaert
Nikolaus Gerhaert (c.1420 – 28 June 1473), also known as Nikolaus Gerhaert van Leyden, was a Dutch sculptor, although aside from his sculptures, few details are known of his life. He worked in both stone and wood.
Biography
Gerhaert is consi ...
.
Grasser worked mainly in wood, and is best known for the 16 figures of ''Moriskentänzer'' (
Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
dancers, 1480, 10 remaining, the fate of 6 unknown) lining the walls of the great dance and assembly hall of
Old Townhall, the oak choir stalls at the
Frauenkirche cathedral (1502) and the madonna of the high altar in
St Mary (Ramersdorf), all three located in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
. He also created the high altar at
Reichersdorf (1502–1506).
Works
![Burial of the Virgin CPLH 48](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Burial_of_the_Virgin_CPLH_48.9.JPG)
Grasser is credited with creating the 'Burial of the Virgin' though it may have been a follower of his. This piece depicts Mary, the Mother of God, in a coffin being carried to her final resting place. This story is not mentioned in the Bible. In an apocryphal collection of stories called ''Transitus Mariae'' attributed to Bishop St. Melito of Sardis, Mary died in the presence of the Apostles and one version of what happened to her body is that the Apostles then buried her.
Morris Dancers
Grasser was paid for the "Morris Dancers" (''Moriskentänzter'') in 1480. They were standing in about 5 meters height on extending consoles of the lower section of the roof of the "Dance House". This was the central, representative 1st floor of the Old Town Hall (''Altes Rathaus'', in use 1480/1874). The Dance House was used for events of the city as well as the ducal and royal houses. The dancer carvings were part of a heraldic roof pgrogram symbolizing the leadership claim of Duke Herzog
Albrecht IV of Bavaria, showing crests of the whole world. The originals were replaced by copies in 1931 and removed to the city museum, so survived WWII destruction of the Old Town Hall. The "Dance House" was reconstructed/reopened in 1977 and is used again for events of the city today.
[Lauterbach, Iris / Weidner, Thomas (ed.): ''Die Münchner Moriskentänzer. Repräsentation und Performanz städtischen Selbstverständnisses (The Munich Morris Dancers. Representation and Performance of municipal self-understanding).'' Munich (Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte) 2013. ]
Image:Moreska Grasser01.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
Image:Moreska Grasser02.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
Image:Moreska Grasser03.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
Image:Moreska Grasser04.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
Image:Moreska Grasser05.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
Image:Moreska Grasser06.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
Image:Moreska Grasser07.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
Image:Moreska Grasser08.jpg, ''Moriskentänzer'', one of 16 (now 10) ''Moresca
Moresca (Italian), morisca (Spanish), mourisca (Portuguese) or moresque, mauresque (French), also known in French as the danse des bouffons, is a dance of exotic character encountered in Europe in the Renaissance period. This dance usually took fo ...
Dancers'' by Erasmus Grasser, Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
, 1480.
File:Moriskentänzer Hochzeiterer 2.jpg
File:Moriskentänzer Hochzeiterer.jpg
References
*Philipp M. Halm, ''Erasmus Grasser'', 1927
External links
Moresca Dancersat the Munich Museum.
Burial of the Virginat the Legion of Honor in San Francisco
1450 births
1510 deaths
German sculptors
German male sculptors
{{Germany-sculptor-stub