Sabina von Steinbach was – according to legend – a female stonemason living in Alsace during the 13th century. She is said to have been the daughter of Erwin von Steinbach, architect and master builder at Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, the cathedral in Strasbourg. When after her father's death her brother Johann continued to build the cathedral tower from 1318 to 1339, Sabina is believed to have been employed as a skillful mason and sculptor in its completion. There are, however, strong doubts as to whether she existed.
Painting by Moritz von Schwind, 1844
Moritz von Schwind was an Austrian painter, born in Vienna. Schwind's genius was lyrical—he drew inspiration from chivalry, folklore, and the songs of the people. Schwind died in Pöcking in Bavaria, and was buried in the Alter Südfriedhof in Munich.
Moritz von Schwind, c. 1860.
The Rose, or the Artist's Journey. 1846
Frankfurt, Schwindhaus
A Player with a Hermit (1846)