Faust Lang

Faust Emanuel Lang (1887–1973) was a German sculptor who settled in St Ives, Cornwall, in South West England.

Faust Lang was born to Andreas and Lucie Lang in Oberammergau in Southern Germany. His father was a sculptor and also played St. Peter in the Passion Play in Oberammergau.

Faust emigrated to England in 1934 living in Winterslow Rectory in Salisbury, Wiltshire, with his in-laws. The family then moved to Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, in 1936 along with his wife Una Lang and his son Wharton Lang. Finally in 1949 they moved to St Ives, purchasing Fauna Studio, Mount Zion, which became a base for his artistic work. He exhibited widely both nationally and internationally submitting work to the Royal Academy in 1946/47 and numerous other galleries such as the Russell Coates Art Gallery in Bournemouth and The Medici Gallery, Old Bond Street, London. He produced a wide range of private commissions including religious work much of which can still be seen.

His sculptural style reflected his South German background and he excelled in figurative subjects both human and animal. His style was very expressive but with great attention to detail, outlining every muscle, sinew and hair in order to give a feeling of life and movement. He also produced a series of figurines for Wade Ceramics before World War II.

Figure Skater sculpted by Faust Lang during the 1950s

• Figure of Christ on the Cross, St Mary Abbotts Church, Kensington (in commemoration of Robert Curwin, Rector)
• Figure of St. Eia in St Ives Catholic Church
• Figure of Christus Regnans (Reigning Christ) in Tintagel Parish Church
• Madonna and Child in Bodmin Parish Church