Johann Peter Alexander Wagner
Encyclopedia
Johann Peter Alexander Wagner (26 February 17301–7 January 1809) was a German rococo
sculptor
.
He was born in Obertheres, Unterfranken, Bavaria
, Germany
and was initially trained by his father, Johann Thomas Wagner. He moved to Vienna
in 1747 and worked under several commissioners including another Johann Wagner and Balthasar Ferdinand Moll
; after which he moved to Mannheim
and worked under Paul Egell or Augustin Egell. He entered under the court sculptor Johann Wolfgang von der Auwera to Prince–Bishop of Würzburg around 1756 who died that year—Wagner then took his master's widow as his bride, she was named Maria Cordula Curé (daughter of Claude Curé). He also assumed the workshop of his master along with a brother-in-law
, Lukas von der Auwera.
He created several utilitant items over the next several years including a console table (1759), the altar
to the Augustinerkirche
, Würzburg
(1760), the altar and baptismal font
to the Stadtpfarrkirche of St Maria and St Regiswindis, Gerolzhofen
, Schweinfurt
. He collaborated with Lukas von der Auwera between 1763 and 1766 on the Vierröhren Fountain, Würzburg carving the figures. In 1766 he moved onto a purely aesthetic work depicting the Crucifixion
for a church in Kürnach
. He continued the trend composing 14 groups of figures for the Wallfahrtskirche Mariae Heimsuchung between 1767 and 1775 which were the Stations of the Cross
.
In December 1771 he became the court sculptor to Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim, Prince–Bishop of Würzburg for whom he created several works over the next decade. These works include decorative carvings for the building (primarily staircases) at the Residenz in Würzburg
and exterior statues of Pluto and Proserpina
for the same residence. He also created statues of the Rape of Europa for a park at Schloss Veitshöchheim. He became particularly popular during this time and had much continued demand for ecclesiastical work. His work at the Klosterkirche at Ebrach
, Oberfranken was emulated by those who worked under him for an Augustine monastery.
His style changed during his career from rococo to classical upon his assumption of the position of court sculptor, and finally back to rococo. 1790 saw him at his most classical in a life-size statue of the Virgin. He worked by first making a sketch, a detailed drawing, and conceptual clay
bozzetti. He worked primarily in clay
, wood
and marble
. His work may be seen in several museums in Würzburg, particularly the Mainfränkisches Museum. He fathered Johann Martin von Wagner on 24 June 1777 who trained as a sculptor under him. He died in Würzburg on the 7 January 1809.
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
.
He was born in Obertheres, Unterfranken, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and was initially trained by his father, Johann Thomas Wagner. He moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1747 and worked under several commissioners including another Johann Wagner and Balthasar Ferdinand Moll
Balthasar Ferdinand Moll
Balthasar Ferdinand Moll 4 January 1717 - Vienna 3 March 1785) was one of the most famous sculptors in Vienna during the height of the Baroque era...
; after which he moved to Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
and worked under Paul Egell or Augustin Egell. He entered under the court sculptor Johann Wolfgang von der Auwera to Prince–Bishop of Würzburg around 1756 who died that year—Wagner then took his master's widow as his bride, she was named Maria Cordula Curé (daughter of Claude Curé). He also assumed the workshop of his master along with a brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
, Lukas von der Auwera.
He created several utilitant items over the next several years including a console table (1759), the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
to the Augustinerkirche
Augustinerkirche
The Augustinian Church in Vienna is a parish church located on Josefsplatz, next to the Hofburg, the winter palace of the Habsburg dynasty in Vienna. Originally built in the 14th century as the parish church of the imperial court of the Habsburgs, the harmonious Gothic interior was added in the...
, Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
(1760), the altar and baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
to the Stadtpfarrkirche of St Maria and St Regiswindis, Gerolzhofen
Gerolzhofen
Gerolzhofen is a town in the district of Schweinfurt, Bavaria, Germany. The town is the former center of the district of Gerolzhofen and has about 7,000 inhabitants. The mayor of Gerolzhofen is Irmgard Krammer .-Twin towns:...
, Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
. He collaborated with Lukas von der Auwera between 1763 and 1766 on the Vierröhren Fountain, Würzburg carving the figures. In 1766 he moved onto a purely aesthetic work depicting the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
for a church in Kürnach
Kürnach
Kürnach is a municipality in the district of Würzburg in Bavaria in Germany....
. He continued the trend composing 14 groups of figures for the Wallfahrtskirche Mariae Heimsuchung between 1767 and 1775 which were the Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
.
In December 1771 he became the court sculptor to Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim, Prince–Bishop of Würzburg for whom he created several works over the next decade. These works include decorative carvings for the building (primarily staircases) at the Residenz in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
and exterior statues of Pluto and Proserpina
Proserpina
Proserpina or Proserpine is an ancient Roman goddess whose story is the basis of a myth of Springtime. Her Greek goddess' equivalent is Persephone. The probable origin of her name comes from the Latin, "proserpere" or "to emerge," in respect to the growing of grain...
for the same residence. He also created statues of the Rape of Europa for a park at Schloss Veitshöchheim. He became particularly popular during this time and had much continued demand for ecclesiastical work. His work at the Klosterkirche at Ebrach
Ebrach
Ebrach is a community with market rights in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg and the seat of the administrative community of Ebrach.-Etymology:...
, Oberfranken was emulated by those who worked under him for an Augustine monastery.
His style changed during his career from rococo to classical upon his assumption of the position of court sculptor, and finally back to rococo. 1790 saw him at his most classical in a life-size statue of the Virgin. He worked by first making a sketch, a detailed drawing, and conceptual clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
bozzetti. He worked primarily in clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
, wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
and marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. His work may be seen in several museums in Würzburg, particularly the Mainfränkisches Museum. He fathered Johann Martin von Wagner on 24 June 1777 who trained as a sculptor under him. He died in Würzburg on the 7 January 1809.