Johann Baptist Babel

Johann Baptist Babel ( born June 25, 1716 in Pfronten -Ried, † February 9, 1799 in Einsiedeln ) was a sculptor and is considered one of the masters of the Swiss Baroque. He was a cousin of the artist Johann Heel ( born August 15, 1685) and Peter Heel (* May 9, 1696 ), his half-brother, from Pfronten -Ried.

Life

He was the fourth of seven children of the court clerk Hans Babylon. He chose early on the profession as a sculptor, and went into the area to a sculptor in teaching. Since his father died when he was 16 years old, he had early stand on its own and went as a 19 -year-old sculptor journeyman. From the early years in the profession very little is secured.

In 1742 he first appeared as a master in appearance and indeed in the cost calculation for sculptors and stucco work, which he presented to the abbot Constantin Müller of Salem for the monastery of Alt- Birnau.

On July 27, 1747, he married Katharina Elisabeth Willi ( born April 1, 1728 † July 4, 1807 ) of Einsiedeln. The only child of the marriage died before baptism, so that it is locate in any parish register. Due to his marriage Babel moved the residence to Einsiedeln, where he worked to a certain extent II as court sculptor of Prince Abbot Niklaus and for a time almost exclusively executed work on behalf of the monastery. After the monastery was almost completed, the Solothurn patrician Franz Viktor Augustin von Roll became his new main client, the 1751 bore down him his first job. So its area of ​​effect is also moved to Solothurn, but he still held in Einsiedeln a workshop. Because Johann Baptist Babel was not only a gifted sculptor and artist, but also a good business man who knew how he had to sell. For this reason, its field enlarged increasingly, so that he could perform well in the reformed territories orders.

On April 5, 1774 after he had earned good money in Solothurn, Johann Baptist Babel joined with his wife Katharina Elisabeth and her sister Helena Willi from a contract of inheritance. On September 7, 1777, he was accepted into the guild and brotherhood of Einsiedeln. He was active into old age, he made but only in the 78th year of life, the life-size Nepomuk statue on the Ezelbrücke.

In his last days he had to watch as the French on May 3, 1798 wantonly smashed one of his works, including the high altar sculpture after the invasion of Einsiedeln. On February 9, 1799 it rescued the death of his joyless existence has become.

Works

His main works include the secure complex of works in Einsiedeln where he embellished the newly built by Caspar Moosbrugger building of the monastery.

His second complex group of works can be found in Solothurn, where he helped with the decoration of the Cathedral of St. Ursus.

Side altars and altar sculptures he also produced preliminary designs, small sculptures, jewelery models, fountains and garden figures.

Selection of works in chronological order: