Krafft, Adam

Krafft, Adam a celebrated German sculptor and architect, born at Nuremberg about 1430, and supposed to have died about 1507, deserves our notice for his prominent connection with ecclesiology. One of the most remarkable performances of his still extant is the tabernacle in stone, fixed against one of the columns of the choir of the church of St. Lawrence (Lorenzkirche), Nuremberg. It is in the form of a square open Gothic spire, and is 64 feet high; the pinnacle being turned downwards like the crook of the crosier dr an episcopal staff, to avoid the arch of the church. The ciborium is placed immediately upon a low platform, which is supported partly by the kneeling figures of Adam Krafft and his two assistants; the rail or baluster of the platform is richly carved, and is ornamented with the figures of eight saints. The whole tabernacle is also profusely ornamented with small figures in the round and bassi-relievi: immediately above the ciborium, on three sides, are representations in basso relievo of " Christ taking leave of his Mother," the "Last Supper," and "Christ on the Mount of Olives;" high above these are "Christ before Caiaphas," the " Crowning with Thorns," and the " Scourging;" above these is the "Crucifixion ;" and lastly, above that, is the " Resurrection," all in the round. This elaborate work was executed by Krafft for a citizen of the name of Hans Imhof, and for the small sum of 770 florins. There is a print of this tabernacle in Doppelmavr's listorische Natachricht von den Niirnberqischen Kinsflern. Recent writers have indulged in various conjectures regarding the time and works of Krafft, but the circumstances of both are still involved in their former uncertainty. See Fiissli, Allgemeines Kunstler-Lexikon, s.v.; Nagler, Allgemeines Kiinstler- Lexikcon, s.v.