GÜNTHER, Franz Ignaz
(b. 1725, Altmannstein, d. 1775, München)

The Annunciation

1763
Painted wood
Parish church, Weyarn

Sculptor and architect, Ignaz Günther was born at Altmannstein, was a pupil of Straub and Donner, then worked in Salzburg before becoming court sculptor at Munich in 1773. He left behind him a considerable production. His works of 1763 at Weyarn are especially interesting: they consist of the Annunciation, a Pietà, and figures of Saints, carved in wood and painted in soft, light colours. This Rococo imagery, animated by a gentle religious fervour, achieves a luminous mystical effect through its flowing grace and the lightly curving upward movements.