BARTHEL, MELCHIOR. – Sculptor, b. in Dresden in 1625, d. there on 12 November 1672. He travelled throughout Europe; besides other Italian cities, he visited Rome and then Venice. He remained there for 17 years, leaving numerous works in which he followed the Berninian manner (Pesaro Tomb in S. Maria dei Frari, a tomb in the church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo, the statue of S. Giovanni Battista in the oratory of S. Maria di Nazareth). In 1670 he returned to Dresden and was appointed court sculptor.
BIBL.: Anon., s. V. in Thieme-Becker, II, p. 547. For the works in Venice, cf. G. Lorenzetti, Venezia, Venice n.d., pp. 122, 296, 319, 330, 430, 554, 744.