Anonymous 19th Century American School: Nude Ephebe

This beautiful drawing came into my collection about ten years ago. Ordinarily I try to buy works in their original state, full undamaged pages, and hopefully signed and dated but I could not pass up this nice work. There are works I have bought in spite of the fact that they are damaged along the edges because of the technical aspects of the drawing itself. This drawing has been cut down from it's original size and is apparently not signed. I really believe that cutting down a drawing in order to save on framing is never a good thing. The seller assured me it is from a 19th century American Art School but to my eye the model and the drawing has a European flavor. The artist has caught that contraposito pose precisely and the youthful essence of the model. A very fine drawing in spite of spotting and being cut down from its original size.
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Exposed: The Victorian Nude

Mr. UPS has performed his magic again with the delivery of a remainder from Amazon.com. From 1 November 2001 to 27 January 2002 The Tate Britain put on an exhibition of works titled "Exposed The Victorian Nude" and caused the publication of an accompanying profusely illustrated book. I was somewhat put off by the price at the time and recently discovered that Amazon.com was selling remainders at a very attractive price so I grabbed a copy for my Art Library. The exhibit was thought provoking and evocative. This particular volume surveys the full range of Victorian representations of male and female figures. This book would make a great addition to any Art Library. Highly recommended.
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Cover: Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896) The Bath of Psyche c.1889-1890
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Title: Exposed The Victorian Nude

Edited by Alison Smith

Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications, New York

ISBN: 0-8230-1633-1

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Here are just a few of the many illustrations in this beautiful volume:
(Illustrations courtesy of Exposed The Victorian Nude)
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William Mulready (1786-1863) Male Academic Study ... 1845

Simeon Solomon (1840-1905) The Sleeping Endymion .. 1887

William Everett (1829-1896) Study of a male nude sitting as if on horseback ..1843-53

James Havard Thomas (1854-1921) Castagnettes No. 2 ...1900

Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896) The Sluggard ... 1885

Edward Onslow Ford (1852-1901) The Singer ... 1889

Edward John Poyner (1836-1919) Study for mosaic of St. George .. 1869)

Edward John Poyner (1836-1919) Paul and Apollos .. 1872

Anna Lea Merritt (1844-1930) Love Locked Out .. 1889

Rudolf Alfred Jaumann (1859 - 1923) Male Nude - Pen & Ink Drawing

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This beautifully executed drawing of a male nude is actually a page from the artist's sketchbook. It came from a private seller in Germany several years ago. I was fascinated by the energy captured in the application of the ink on the paper. It is signed in the lower right hand corner. Rudolf Alfred Jaumann (1859-1923) was a painter and graphic artist born in Pilsen and died in Salzburg. He studied at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts from 1875 to 1878 and later under Professor Franz von Loefflz at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. He first specialized in Society portraits, genre pictures, hunting pictures and allegorical compositions. He made some stunning naturalistic paintings of the Alps during his career. He also worked as a book illustrator and modeled beautiful animal bronzes. He received an honorary medal from the Munich Academy. He was well known for his graphic works, etchings, and illustrations.
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Caption: Male Nude, Rear View

Artist: Rudolf Alfred Jaumann (1859-1923)

Medium: Pen & Ink Wash on paper

Dated: Undated

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Here are a few examples of Jaumann's mature works:

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Two Studies of a Roe... Courtesy of the Wilnitsky Gallery, Vienna, Austria

Carl J. Peyfuss (1865-1932) Nude Ephebe

Portrait of Carl J. Peyfuss (1865-1932)

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Caption: Nude Ephebe

Artist: Carl J. Peyfuss (1865-1932)

Medium: conte on paper with white chalk highlights

Dated: 1884

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Here is a painting done by Peyfuss for the Austrian Royal Court in 1908:

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Emperior Franz Josef inspecting the new addition of the Household...1908

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I finally found a folder containing the original purchase receipt for this drawing which identified the artist who executed the beautiful drawing. The artist is Carl (Karl) J. Peyfuss (Austrian 1865-1932). Carl J. Peyfuss was born in Vienna in 1865. He studied at the Vienna School of Arts and at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. From 1888 to 1890 he completed his art education in Paris. During his return to Vienna he executed paintings for the Imperial court. He was a member of the Visual Arts Association of Vienna and was awarded the Golden Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria in 1931.