God the Father

Johann Peter Schwanthaler belonged to a renowned family of sculptors that produced works for religious and domestic settings throughout Bavaria, Austria, and southern Germany for more than 250 years. This imposing image of God the Father would have formed part of a larger group, probably at the top of an altar. The figure displays the characteristic features of Schwanthaler’s style, such as the elongated figural proportions, sharp-edged drapery folds, and the beautifully expressive, anatomically detailed hands.