Georg Rafael Donner (1693 – 1741): A Baroque Sculptor Shaped by Antiquity Georg Rafael Donner was a prolific Austrian sculptor of the 18th century whose distinctive style blended baroque grandeur with subtle echoes of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. Born in Essling, Vienna, he emerged from humble beginnings to become one of his era’s most celebrated artists, leaving an indelible mark on Viennese Baroque art and shaping the careers of numerous younger sculptors. His artistic journey began under the tutelage of Giovanni Giuliani, a sculptor who instilled in him a passion for classical ideal…