Biography

German sculptor and wood-carver. He is probably identical with Master H W the evidence of whose identity rests on three works dated between 1501 and 1512, monogrammed H W, around which a group of stylistically similar sculptures has been collected. Experts identified H W with Hans Witten on the basis of an entry in the Annaberg council records concerning the settlement of a tavern brawl in April 1511 between 'Master Balczer the painter and Hans Widenn his adversary, also a painter.' The name Hans Witten was found several times in the tax register of the priest of St Jakobi, Goslar, between 1490 and 1525, but with no indication of his profession.