Ignaz Günther (22 November 1725 – 27 June 1775) was a German

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 ...

and

woodcarver Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation ...

working in the

Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...

Rococo Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...

tradition. He was born in

Altmannstein Altmannstein (Central Bavarian: ''Oidmannstoa'') is a municipality in the district of Eichstätt in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populo ...

, where he received his earliest training from his father, then studied 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 ...

under the court sculptor

Johann Baptist Straub Johann Baptist Straub (1 June 1704 (baptism) – 15 July 1784) was a German Rococo sculptor. Biography Straub was born in Wiesensteig, into a family of sculptors. His father Johann George Straub and his brothers Philipp Jakob, Joseph, and ...

from 1743 to 1750. His ''

Wanderjahre In a certain tradition, the journeyman years () are a time of travel for several years after completing apprenticeship as a craftsman. The tradition dates back to medieval times and is still alive in France, Scandinavia and the German-speaking c ...

'' took him to Salzburg, Olmütz, Vienna, and Mannheim, where he studied with Paul Egell from 1751 to 1752. Between May and October 1753, he was enrolled in the

Vienna Academy of Fine Arts The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (german: link=no, Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien) is a public art school in Vienna, Austria. History The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy modelled on the Accademia di Sa ...

and won the annual students' competition. In 1754, he started his own workshop in

, where he remained until his death in 1775. He is best remembered for his work in churches, especially his altars. A wooden crucifix styled by Günther was given by the official Bavarian civil and ecclesiastical delegation as an 85th birthday gift to

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign ...

, a native of Bavaria, on Monday 16 April 2012.

Major works

—Church of the Holy Cross (1763–1764) *

Aschau im Chiemgau Aschau im Chiemgau is a municipality and a village in the district of Rosenheim in Bavaria in Germany. Transport Aschau im Chiemgau station is on the Chiemgau Railway. Personalities * Hans Clarin (1929-2005), actor and synchronist * Locati ...

—Gallery of Ancestors in Burg Hohenaschau (two wooden statues) (1766) *

Benediktbeuern Benediktbeuern (Central Bavarian: ''Benediktbeiern'') is a municipality in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen in Bavaria, Germany, 2 kilometers, or 1.25 miles from Bichl. The village has 3,602 residents as of 31 December 2019. The medieval ...

— Church of St. Benedict (side altars, attributed) *

Freising Freising () is a university town in Bavaria, Germany, and the capital of the Freising ''Landkreis'' (district), with a population of about 50,000. Location Freising is the oldest town between Regensburg and Bolzano, and is located on the Is ...

—Neustift Abbey Church (high altar) (1756) *

Gmund am Tegernsee Gmund am Tegernsee is a municipality in the district of Miesbach in Bavaria in Germany. The town is located on the north shore of the Tegernsee Lake, and near the source of River Mangfall. It is from Munich and from the district capital, the ...

—Parish Church of St. Ägidius (gilded wooden relief on north side altar) (1763) * Greisstätt-Altenhohenau—Monastery Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (altars) (1767) *

Ingolstadt Ingolstadt (, Austro-Bavarian: ) is an independent city on the Danube in Upper Bavaria with 139,553 inhabitants (as of June 30, 2022). Around half a million people live in the metropolitan area. Ingolstadt is the second largest city in Upper Bav ...

—Minorite Church (Preysing

epitaph An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...

) (1770) *

Mallersdorf Mallersdorf-Pfaffenberg ( bar, label=Central Bavarian, Mollaschdorf-Pfoffaberg) is a municipality in the district of Straubing-Bogen in Bavaria, Germany and has around 7000 inhabitants. Mallersdorf-Pfaffenberg is located in the heart of Bavaria ...

—

Mallersdorf Abbey Mallersdorf Abbey (Abtei or Kloster Mallersdorf) was formerly a monastery of the Benedictine Order and is now a Franciscan convent in Mallersdorf-Pfaffenberg in Bavaria. History The monastery, dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, was foun ...

(high altar) (1768–1770) *

—

Bürgersaalkirche The Bürgersaal (English: "Citizen's Hall") is a historical building in Munich, Germany. Also known as ''Bürgersaalkirche'' since the consecration of the altar on May 13, 1778, it is the prayer and meeting room of the Marian Men Congregation " ...

(guardian angels under the organ gallery) (1762) *

—Pieces in the

Bavarian National Museum The Bavarian National Museum (german: Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, links=no) in Munich is one of the most important museums of decorative arts in Europe and one of the list of largest art museums in the world , largest art museums in Germany. S ...

, including his '' Hausmadonna'' for private devotion * München-Harlaching—Pilgrimage Church of St. Anna (altars) (1763&1764) * Nenningen—Cemetery Chapel (

Pietà The Pietà (; meaning "pity", "compassion") is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus after his body was removed from the cross. It is most often found in sculpture. The Pietà is a specific form o ...

—last known work of Günther) (1774) *

Rott am Inn Rott am Inn is a municipality in the district of Rosenheim in Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the larg ...

— Benedictine Abbey Church of St. Marinus and St. Anianus) (high altar, side altars, and figures of the

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...

, Saint Kunigunde, Saint Henry,

Saint Corbinian Saint Corbinian ( la, Corbinianus; french: Corbinien; german: Korbinian; 670 – 8 September c. 730 AD) was a Frankish bishop. After living as a hermit near Chartres for fourteen years, he made a pilgrimage to Rome. Pope Gregory II sent him to ...

and Saint Ulrich) (1761–1762) *

Starnberg Starnberg is a German town in Bavaria, Germany, some southwest of Munich. It is at the north end of Lake Starnberg, in the heart of the " Five Lakes Country", and serves as capital of the district of Starnberg. Recording a disposable per-capi ...

— St. Joseph's Church (high altar) (1766–1768) *

Weyarn Weyarn is a municipality in the district of Miesbach in Bavaria in Germany. It dates back to a monastery that was founded by Siboto II, count of Falkenstein in 1133. It is located 38 km southeast of Munich and can be easily reached on hig ...

—Catholic Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (

woodcarving Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation ...

on high altar, including

Annunciation The Annunciation (from Latin '), also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the biblical tale of the announcement by the ange ...

putti A putto (; plural putti ) is a figure in a work of art depicted as a chubby male child, usually naked and sometimes winged. Originally limited to profane passions in symbolism,Dempsey, Charles. ''Inventing the Renaissance Putto''. University of ...

, the carved shrine of Saint Valerius, and silver-framed

tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle ( he, מִשְׁכַּן, mīškān, residence, dwelling place), also known as the Tent of the Congregation ( he, link=no, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ’ōhel mō‘ēḏ, also Tent of Meeting, etc.), ...

) (1763–1764)

Notes

Bibliography

* Christiane Hertel, ''Pygmalion in Bavaria: The Sculptor Ignaz Günther and Eighteenth-Century Aesthetic Art Theory'' (University Park, PA, 2011). {{DEFAULTSORT:Gunther, Ignaz 1725 births 1775 deaths 18th-century German sculptors 18th-century German male artists German male sculptors German woodcarvers Burials in Germany Academy of Fine Arts Vienna alumni Catholic sculptors Catholic decorative artists