Attributed to Jörg Zürn (Waldsee, Upper Swabia circa 1583 - 1635/38 Überlingen), German, Late 16th/ Early 17th century

The Archangel Michael is shown here with masses of dense, snail-like curls in his hair and kenetic drapery. His hands have visible knuckles and the fingers appear to be double jointed, exaggerated and moving in a variety of directions. These features are hallmarks of the work of the celebrated Zürn family of sculptors, in particular Jörg Zürn.

Zürn, along with his five brothers, followed in the footsteps of their father who was a sculptor, Hans Zürn the Elder. Jörg became the most prominent of this artistic family, one of whom's masterpieces is the High Altar of the Virgin Mary (1613-16), in the Church of Saint Nicholas, Überlingen.

RELATED LITERATURE

C. Z. von Manteuffel, Die Bildhauerfamilie Zürn, 1606-1666, Weissenhorn, 1969.