Peter Vischer the Elder

Peter Vischer the Elder

Peter Vischer the Elder (c. 1455 – January 7, 1529) was a German sculptor, the son of Hermann Vischer, and the most famous member of the noted Vischer Family of Nuremberg.

Biography

Peter was born in Nuremberg, where he also died. He became "master" in 1489, and in 1494 was summoned by Philip, Elector Palatine to Heidelberg. He soon returned, however, to Nuremberg, where he worked with the help of his five sons, Hermann, Peter, Hans, Jakob and Paul.

Works

Monument of St. Sebaldus in the Sebalduskirche at Nuremberg, the masterpiece of Peter Vischer the elder and his sons, begun 1508, completed 1519
King Arthur by Peter Vischer the Elder

Besides these works there are a number of others ascribed to Peter the Elder with less certainty. In technique few bronze sculptors have ever equalled him, but his designs are marred by an excess of mannered realism and a too exuberant fancy.

Theodoric, King of the Goths

The two figures for the tomb of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor by Peter Vischer (King Arthur & Theodoric the Great), at the Hofkirche, Innsbruck, begun in 1521, are perhaps the most meritorious German work of this class in the 16th century, and show considerable Italian influence. Arthur, and perhaps Theoderic too, was designed by Albrecht Dürer. Headlam believes that Peter Vischer the Younger is responsible for the Arthur and that Peter Vischer the Elder is responsible for Theoderic.

Peter Vischer the Elder is honored at the Walhalla Hall of Fame and Honor which currently honors 191 German speaking individuals of the last 1800 years.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peter Vischer the Elder.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, February 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.