Martin Gramp

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Martin Gramp was a 16th century sculptor who came from Lindau in Lake Constance and who ran a workshop in Freiburg im Üchtland in Switzerland between 1508 and 1524.

biography

Martin Gramp, son of Gallus Donornen alias Gramp from Lindau in Lake Constance , came to Freiburg im Üchtland in 1508 . Until 1524 he was mentioned regularly in the Freiburg sources, mainly as a sculptor, but also as a carpenter. In 1509 he bought a house next to the Church of St. Nicholas. In 1524 the city paid him his house rent for the last time, suggesting that he died that year.

style

The sculptures from Gramp's workshop have a rustic expressiveness. The sculptor renounced the typically Gothic elongation of the body and created figures with realistic proportions. In the high altar retable of St. John's Church, he emphasized the individual characters of the people depicted in order to clearly distinguish them from one another. They do not appear as unattainable ideal images, but as real-life companions. In contrast, the head of the Palm Ass Christ is depicted in a very idealized manner for iconographic reasons.

The sculptures from Gramps workshop can be easily recognized by a special detail: their hair design. The gently curved strands end in short curls that do not end in a point, but look like they have been cut off. All heads have an elongated shape, but become noticeably wide towards the back and also have a forehead that is strongly arched towards the sides. The faces are characterized by differently shaped eyes and impressive eyelids, pronounced crow's feet and slight dark circles. The nose, which is usually short and wide, is emphasized by a vertical indentation at the root. The lips are full, the chin is small and rounded.

technology

From a technical point of view, the care with which Martin Gramp selected his work blocks should be emphasized. Additions are rare, the hands are occasionally pegged in the sleeves. The numerous chips from drying cracks are striking. The back cavities are rather roughly carved.

Art-historical classification of the workshop of Martin Gramps

Due to Gramp's origins in Lindau, one looked in vain for references to Swabian sculpture. There are more similarities between his works and sculpture from Lower Franconia, especially works from the workshops of Hans Seyfer and Tilman Riemenschneider .

The palm donkey Christ seems to follow the type of "Vera Icona" from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, which was widespread in countless variants. The figures in the Church of St. Johann in Freiburg are reminiscent of Upper Swabian art at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Sculptures from the workshop of Martin Gramps

  • Palm donkey Christ from the collegiate church of St. Nikolaus in Freiburg , 1513–1514, Museum of Art and History Freiburg (MAHF 3195)
  • Crucifix , 1508, City Hall, Freiburg
  • High altar retable of the Church of St. Johann in Freiburg: Madonna and Child, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, busts of hll. Peter and Paul, 1514, St. Johann Church, Freiburg
  • Arm reliquaries of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, around 1515, St. Johann Church, Freiburg
  • Male bust with a flat bowl / console figure, around 1510–1515, Museum of Art and History Freiburg (MAHF 7387)
  • St. Christophorus, around 1515, Museum of Art and History Freiburg (MAHF 2447)

See also

literature

  • Stephan Gasser, Katharina Simon-Muscheid , Alain Fretz and Primula Bosshard (photos): The Freiburg sculpture of the 16th century. Production, function and client base. Michael Imhof Verlag, Petersberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-86568-626-8 .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gramp, Martin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION sculptor
DATE OF BIRTH 15th century
PLACE OF BIRTH Lindau in Lake Constance
DATE OF DEATH 16th Century