200th anniversary of death - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1992 - 5 Shilling

The motif of the special postage stamp shows the "Annunciation to Mary", a work by the artist, which has been on display since 1911 in the Old Gallery of the Styrian Provincial Museum Joanneum in Graz. The artist, born on 1 July 1729, was elected a member of the Vienna Academy in 1769, which was essential for his further development. Because he was able to settle anywhere from that point on, was free of payment obligations and the limitation in the number of his assistants. The group of preaching originated in 1759 presents the artist in full possession of his creative abilities: The two figures embody monumentality and emotional expression as the main element of König's work in a unique perfection. The fulfilled life of the artist, who had been married three times, also left behind a myriad of other unique sculptural works of art. Just one example of this is the dominant part of the interior design of the pilgrimage and collegiate church of St. Veit am Vogau, near the Slovenian border. In the sanctuary a Madonna (in her physiognomy similar to the Annunciation Madonna) and a Christ Salvador are examples of König's unmistakable style. The artist died on 2 December 1792.