Howard Everett Smith (1885-1970): Academic Nudes

Over the years of collecting, browsing Internet auction sites, and perusing the Fine Arts Library, I have managed to collect a vast number of examples of academic nudes and what I thought I would do between photographing my own collection is browse through this mass of files and pick out some very fine examples of academic nudes for your enjoyment.

Howard Everett Smith (1885-1970) was an American painter and print maker, illustrator, and portrait painter. He studied at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts under the famous Edmund Tarbell and later under Howard Pyle at the New York Art Students League. He later taught at the Rhode Island School of Design for a while. These two academic nudes were from his days at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts:
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Here are just a few examples of Smith's other works:

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Out of the Corral

The Plowman

The Cello Recital

Horses, Carmel Valley, Ca.

Horses under trees, Carmel Valley

Council House of the Iroquois

Breaking Waves ...

Michael Thompson (?): Male Nudes

I found this painting in a computer file that I kept on my computer during my University days and although it is a contemporary work and not from the 19th century, I really love the composition and color. I thought you would enjoy it as much as I do. Reminds me of the work of Paul Cadmus.
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Title: The Boys
Artist: Michael Thompson (?)

Bronzes Currently Listed on European eBay Sites

European eBay sites have a few interesting bronze sculptures for sale this week. I found two interesting works: one, The Rock Mover (first listing below), by Ferdinand Lugerth (Austrian) (1885-1915) and, two, a copy of Max Kruse's Marathon Runner. I have a copy of The Marathon Runner in my collection that is complete, as opposed to the eBay listing which is missing the small branch being held in the runner's right hand. I photographed my example and posted those photographs at the end of this post.

Ferdinand Lugerth (1885-1915) was an Austrian sculptor known for his gilt bronzes, metal and Ivory sculptures, and his primary pieces that specialized in portraits, nudes, and animals. I have also listed just a few of his other beautiful works.

Max Kruse (1854-1942) was a German sculptor, designer, painter, and draftsman. He studied at the Polytechnikum , Stuttgart from 1874, and then at the Academie in Berlin, first under Fritz Schaper and then under Albert Wolff. In 1874 he again returned to study with Schaper and produced his most famous work, Marathon Messenger Bringing News of Victory which he exhibited in 1881. He was winner of the Prix de Rome.
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Ferdinand Lugerth (1885-1915) The Rock Mover

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Here are additional examples of Ferdinand Lugerth's sculptures:

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Here are several photographs that I took of my copy of the Nenikihkamen bronze that is listed above. As you can see if you look at the small branch the runner is holding in my copy, that symbol of victory is missing from the eBay listing. It has obviously been broken off and in my opinion devalues the piece. Another example of how you should look carefully and be familiar with every aspect of the object of art you are spending your hard earned money on. The eBay listing is for a ridiculous Euro 800.00, even with the missing part. Yeah, right. That will happen. My suggestion, keep looking and one will pop up for far less and in much better condition. Caveat emptor... let the buyer beware!

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Works on Hungarian Auction Sites This Week

I made another visit to my favorite Hungarian Auction site and culled through a few recent auctions. I found some nice works like the below listed painting of an artist and his model.. I will come back later and make the appropriate attributions. I have to keep an ear out for the UPS man. I ordered an Olympus EP-2 lightweight point and shoot camera system to take to San Antonio, Texas with me in May. My Canon system is just too heavy to be hauling through airport security and plane changes.
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