Bavarian National Museum Munich (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum München)
Artwork
Sculptures of Europe and Asia in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich
Type
Sculpture
Dimensions
Height: 29 cm
Critical History
When J. B. Straub came back from Vienna he assisted Andreas Faistenberger in the carving work for the highaltar in the Mariahilfkirche in Munich. There is a print dated in 1778 by J. M. Söckler which shows the highaltar. On basis of this print a drawing which is documented in Frankfurt was identified as a designdrawing for this highaltar. To the program of the highaltar belonged sculptures which represented the 4 continents. Volk identifies in the style of the sculptures the influence of Straubs years in Vienna. The sculptures of Europe and Asia might be the bozzetti for the sculptures on the highaltar. 1
The bozzettos are 28 and 29cm high. The inv. no. for the bozzetto of Asia is L 2010/20.1-2 for Europe L 2010/ 21.1-2. The photos has the no. D44962.D103440.
The link to the website of the museum is: www.bayerisches-nationalmuseum.de
Construction / Execution
The sculptures are carved in wood. The gilding is dated in 19th century.
Components
Sculpture
Author: Johann Baptist Straub (Wiesensteig ca. 1704 – Munich 1784)
Completed: 1734 – 1735
Technique(s): wood carving
Polychromy
Technique(s): water gilding
Images
The sculptures of Europe and Asia from the destroyed highaltar of the Mariahilfkirche in Munich in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich
Catalogue entry prepared by Rupert Karbacher
Recommended citation: Rupert Karbacher, Sculptures of Europe and Asia in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 18/11/2025) URL
Sources and Bibliography
Peter Volk, Johann Baptist Straub 1704–1784, München, Hirmer Verlag, 1984
Bayerische Rokokoplastik. Vom Entwurf zur Ausführung (exhibition catalogue, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich 1985), Peter Volk (ed.), Munich , Verlag Schnell & Steiner, 1985
