Georg Rafael Donner facts for kids
Georg Rafael Donner (born May 24, 1693, died February 15, 1741) was a very important Austrian sculptor from the 1700s. He made many beautiful statues and artworks. His art style was called baroque, which means it was very grand and dramatic. He also added some ideas from ancient Greek and Roman art. Donner taught many other sculptors, including his own son, Matthäus Donner.
Early Life and Inspiration
Donner was born in Essling, which is part of Vienna, Austria. He found ideas for his sculptures by looking at nature. He was also inspired by old, ancient sculptures. These ancient artworks were kept at the Vienna's academy, a special art school.
Famous Works and Projects
One of Donner's most famous artworks is called Donnersteig. You can find it at Mirabel Castle in Salzburg. He created this work between 1725 and 1727. For Donnersteig, he sculpted large, life-sized figures out of marble.
From 1728, Donner worked in Pozsony, which is now Bratislava. He worked for a leader named Count-Bishop Emeric Esterházy. There, Donner created a gravestone for the Bishop. He also made a statue of Saint Martin on a horse. For almost ten years, Donner had his art studio in a garden. This garden was just outside Pozsony at the Summer Archbishop's Palace.
In Vienna, Donner created two beautiful fountains. One is called the Fountain of Austria's Rivers, made from 1737 to 1739. The other fountain shows sculptures of Perseus and Andromeda. This fountain is in front of the City Hall and was made in 1739. One of his last works was a Pieta statue. He made it in 1741 for the cathedral in Gurk. Georg Rafael Donner died in Vienna in 1741.
His Legacy
Georg Rafael Donner was honored on an Austrian gold euro coin. This special coin was released on November 13, 2002. The front of the coin shows a picture of Donner. In the background, you can see the Palace of the Lower Belvedere. This palace is now a museum of baroque art in Vienna. Many of Donner's amazing sculptures are displayed there.
See also
In Spanish: Georg Raphael Donner para niños
