Joseph Knabl

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Joseph Knabl (1819-1881) was an Austrian sculptor, born at Fliess, Tirol. The son of a poor peasant, he tended cattle when a boy, was first instructed by the wood carver Franz Renn at Imst, and afterwatd in Munich by Entres and Anselm Sickinger. He studied the best specimens of medieval German wood sculpture in Bavaria, Tirol, and on the Rhine. Afterward he produced a series of sterling works in wood and marble, the most remarkable of which is the "Coronation of the Virgin," on the high altar in the Frauenkirche. He was a member of the academy, at which a special chair was created for him in 1863, and for many years was director of Meyer 's Institute for Ecclesiastic Art.