Mary

The grace of her movement, the noble expression of her face, her fashionable hairstyle, and not least the magnificence of her attire may all have played a part in making this robed figure so extraordinarily popular. Yet the identity of this sculpture, often declared to be the Virgin Mary, and its original function remain a mystery to this day. Her averted head and downcast eyes, and the cloud-like shape of the socle, indicate an elevated installation. But we must be wary of identifying her as the Immaculate Virgin floating in heaven, since the necessary attributes are absent: figures of Mary in this role are generally standing on a crescent moon on top of a globe. Moreover, they have a foot on the serpent, to signal their victory over heresy. Most convincing is the theory that the figure shows the Assumption of the Virgin into heaven: borne aloft by angels, she gazes down at the Apostles gathered around her open grave. The most important works by Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer include the choir stalls in the monastery churches at Weingarten and St. Gallen and the entire furnishings of the Birnau pilgrimage church.