Entwurf für eine Kreuzigungsgruppe mit Johannes, Maria und Magdalena. 

Ignaz Günther made this drawing for a crucifixion group with John, Mary, and Magdalene, but it is unknown when. The sketch gives us a window into the artist's creative process in eighteenth-century Bavaria. At the time, the Catholic Church was a major patron of the arts and Günther, trained in the traditions of South German Rococo sculpture, was known for his expressive religious figures. The drawing illustrates the somber scene of Christ's crucifixion, highlighting the intense emotions of the witnesses. We might consider how the church used art to reinforce religious beliefs and moral values in the face of Enlightenment thought. The grid suggests the workshop practices of translating a 2D design into 3D sculpture. By researching the historical context of this sketch and Günther's other works, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural forces that shaped religious art in Bavaria during this period.