Johann Halbig (also Johann von Halbig) (13 July 1814 – 29 August 1882) was a German sculptor of the

Classicism Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for a classical period, classical antiquity in the Western tradition, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. In its purest form, classicism is an aesthe ...

school.

Biography

He was born at Donnersdorf in

Lower Franconia Lower Franconia (, ) is one of seven districts of Bavaria, Germany. The districts of Lower, Middle and Upper Franconia make up the region of Franconia. It consists of nine districts and 308 municipalities (including three cities). History After ...

and was educated at the Polytechnical School and at the Academy of Fine Arts in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. After the early death of his teacher and employer Ernst Mayer he became his successor as professor of sculpture at the Polytechnic School in Munich, where most of his works can be found. His work is characterized by its decorative quality. Johann Halbig died in Munich and was buried in the

Alter Südfriedhof The Alter Südfriedhof (''Old South Cemetery'') also known as "Alter Südlicher Friedhof" is a cemetery in Munich, Germany. It was founded by Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, Duke Albrecht V as a plague cemetery in 1563 about half a kilometer so ...

Works

His most notable production was the colossal group of a

quadriga A quadriga is a car or chariot drawn by four horses abreast and favoured for chariot racing in classical antiquity and the Roman Empire. The word derives from the Latin , a contraction of , from ': four, and ': yoke. In Latin the word is almos ...

and lions on the triumphal arch (1847). He also carved the lions of the Pinakothek and statues of Roma and

Minerva Minerva (; ; ) is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She is also a goddess of warfare, though with a focus on strategic warfare, rather than the violence of gods such as Mars. Be ...

in the palace gardens. He created 18 colossal statues representing the leading German provinces for the

Befreiungshalle The Befreiungshalle (''"Hall of Liberation"'', ) is a neoclassical monument on the Michelsberg hill above the town of Kelheim in Bavaria, Germany. It stands upstream of Regensburg on the river Danube at the confluence of the Danube and the Altm ...

Kelheim Kelheim () is a town and municipality in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the Kelheim (district), district Kelheim and is situated at the confluence of the rivers Altmühl and Danube. Kelheim has a population of around 16,750 (2020). His ...

; 60 busts for the Pinakothek (Munich); a statue of King Maximilian II for

Lindau Lindau (, ''Lindau am Bodensee''; ; Low Alemannic German, Low Alemannic: ''Lindou'') is a major Town#Germany, town and Lindau (island), island on the eastern side of Lake Constance (''Bodensee'' in German) in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital ...

(1854); a monument of Count

Platen A platen (or platten) is a platform with a variety of roles in printing or manufacturing. It can be a flat metal (or earlier, wooden) plate pressed against a medium (such as paper) to cause an impression in letterpress printing. Platen may al ...

Ansbach Ansbach ( , ; ) is a city in the Germany, German state of Bavaria. It is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk, administrative region of Mittelfranken, Middle Franconia. Ansbach is southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the river Fränk ...

(1858); the monument of Marshal Cachahiba d'Argolo in Bahía, Brazil; a statue of King Ludwig I of Bavaria for Kelheim. Among his later works are a statue of Fraunhofer in Munich (1866); an equestrian statue of King William I of

Württemberg Württemberg ( ; ) is a historical German territory roughly corresponding to the cultural and linguistic region of Swabia. The main town of the region is Stuttgart. Together with Baden and Province of Hohenzollern, Hohenzollern, two other histo ...

for Cannstatt (1876); the "Emancipation" group of sculpture in New York (1867–1868); and the "Passion" group at

Oberammergau Oberammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. The small town on the Ammer River is known for its woodcarvers and woodcarvings, for its NATO School, and around the world for its 380-year tradition of ...

(1875).

Gallery

Befreiungshalle-kelheim-innen.jpg, Hall of Liberty

Halbig Mayer.jpg, Bust of Halbig's teacher Ernst Mayer Löwe v Hallbig.JPG, Lion in Munich Erasmus von Deroy.jpg, Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy, Royal Bavarian General of Infantry Lindau - Löwe Hafeneinfahrt (1991 Sp).jpg, Halibig's lion at Lindau (Bodensee) BudapestDSCN3786.JPG, Budapest: statue of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary Alter-Suedl-Friedhof-Neuer-Teil-Zentralkreuz-Halbig.jpg, Crucifixion in bronze for centrum of

(1850) KreuzigungsgrO.jpg, Colossal crucifixiongroup (12 m high) for

commissioned by

Ludwig II Ludwig II (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm; 25 August 1845 – 13 June 1886), also called the Swan King or the Fairy Tale King (), was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. He also held the titles of Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duk ...

Notes

References

External links