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.

Not to be confused with Michael Graff.

Johann Michael Graff came from a family of stucco decorators from Bavaria. The family had been members of the so-called Wessobrunner School. Johann Michael Graff however seems to have moved to Brandenburg at some point and was influenced by the decorative style predominant in and around Berlin at the time.[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. He also made lavish stucco decorations for Põltsamaa Castle (destroyed during World War II) in present-day Estonia, as well as (possibly) in Kabala Manor in the same country.[6]

References
  1. "Johann Michael Graff". Artfact. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  2. "Rundāle Palace and Museum". Latvia - Best enjoyed slowly. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. "Jelgava Palace Today and Earlier" (PDF). eu-projekt.net. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  4. Lancmanis, Imants. "Die Arbeiten des Stuckateurs Johann Michael Graff in Põltsamaa - ein Rokoko-Kunstwerk Zwischen Berlin und Kurland". Baltic Journal of Art History. Chair of Art History of the Institute of History and Archaeology of the University of Tartu (2009 (Autumn)): 105–131. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  5. "The Duke's state apartments". Rundale Palace. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  6. Sakk, Ivar (2004). Estonian Manors - A Travelogue. Tallinn: Sakk & Sakk OÜ. p. 29. ISBN 9949-10-117-4.
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