German family of sculptors. They were originally from Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland), and there were many branches of the family in Silesia and Saxony. The most important members over four generations exerted a decisive influence on sculpture in Dresden between the Late Gothic and the Baroque. The first member referred to in documents is Hans Walther I ( fl 1487-1511; d Steinmetz), who concluded an inheritance settlement with his brothers in 1497 in Breslau and signed a sandstone figure of St Christopher (1511) in the parish church of Neurode in Silesia (now Nowa Ruda, Poland). Of his two sons, (1) Christoph Walther I was the first member of the family to settle in Dresden; this branch of the family was continued by his son, Hans Walther II (1526-86). After Christoph's death in 1546, Hans II took over his workshop and received many commissions when, from 1548, Maurice, Elector of Saxony (reg 1547-53), converted the medieval castle in Dresden into a modern residence. Through the Italians working on the castle, Hans II was guided in the direction that was to characterize the Dresden school of sculpture for decades. As a citizen of Dresden, Hans II achieved the highest standing and the greatest prosperity of all members of the family, being a member of the council from 1561 and burgomaster, alternating for three-year periods, from 1571. His only son, Christoph Walther III ( fl c. 1550-92), was trained as a painter and musician by his future father-in-law, Benedikt de Tola (1525-72), whom he succeeded as organist in the Elector's orchestra.
The following members have entries:
See the Abbreviations for further details.
