Johann Michael Graff

Johann Michael Graff (Latvian: Johans Mihaels Grafs; sometimes also Johann Michael Graaf, Johann Michael Graaff, Johann Michael Graf or Johann Michael Kraff,^[1] fl. c. 1765-68),^[2] was a German Rococo sculptor and plasterer.^[1] Among his most celebrated decorations are those at Schönhausen Palace, Germany, and Rundāle Palace, Latvia.

Graff came from a family of stucco decorators from Bavaria who were members of the so-called Wessobrunner School. He seems to have moved to Brandenburg at some point, where he was influenced by the decorative style predominant in and around Berlin.^[3] He very probably made decorations for Schönhausen Palace before being hired by the Duke of Courland, Peter von Biron, to decorate his residences in present-day Latvia.^[4] He is known to have decorated Jelgava Palace^[3] (decorations destroyed during World War II) and Rundāle Palace^[5] for the Duke. In present-day Estonia, he also made lavish stucco decorations for Põltsamaa Castle (destroyed during World War II), and possibly at Kabala Manor.^[6]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Johann Michael Graff

Gallery

References

Wikiwand - on