COLIN, ALEXANDER, the sculptor of the excellent marble alti rillevi of the celebrated tomb of the Emperor Maximilian I. iu the Kreuzkirche at Innsbruck. Colin was born at Blechliu in 1526, and in 1563 was invited by the Emperor Ferdinand I. to Innsbruck, to complete the alti-rilievi of his grandfather's tomb, which had been commenced by the brothers AbeL They were completed by Colin, with the help of assistants, in three years, for on one side of the monument is "Alexand. Colinus 3lechliuiensis, sculpsit, anuo 1566." The sculptures consist of twenty-four marble tablets, fixed into the four sides of the tomb, and record all the principal acts and victories of the Emperor Maximilian. The figuree are small, but they are executed with great skill and extreme care. The tomb is surrounded by twenty-eight colossal bronze statues of heroes of the middle ages ; it is altogether one of the most magnificent monuments in Europe, and has often been mentioned in the very highest terms by old and modern travellers. The bronze statues were executed by a founder of
the name of Hans Lendenstreich, and Godel and Lii131er, two other Tyrolese sculptors and founders. Colin executed also the two monu ments of his •patron the Archduke Ferdinand of the Tyrol and his first wife Philippa, in a chapel in the Hofkirche at Innsbruck : the latter bears the date of 1581. They are both extremely costly and elaborate works. There are other works by Colin in Innsbruck and its vicinity ; some in wood, and of very minute and excellent work manship. He was court sculptor to the Emperor Ferdinand I. and to his son the Archduke Ferdinand of the Tyrol, aud died at Innsbruck in 1612.
(Von Lemmen, Tirolisches Kilnaterlexikcm.)