The Passion of Collecting Academic Nudes

Join me as we explore my collection of Academic Nudes from the 18th, 19th, and Early 20th Centuries and serendipitous finds in the Museum, Art Auction, and Gallery world......examples from the Golden Age of the European Academie


Saturday, May 21, 2011

Heinrich Carl Baucke (1875-1915): Barbarian Victor .... The Victorious Boxer (Der Sieger) after 1897

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Heinrich Carl Baucke - Barbarian Victor (After 1897)...... (This example is in the Los Angeles County Art Museum European Painting and Sculpture collection)(37 3/8 in. by 12 11/16 in)




The Victorious Boxer (Die Sieger)


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I just located a medium sized (40cm - 15.75 inch.. 45.5cm with base) edition of Baucke's "The Victorious Boxer" also known as "Barbarian Victor" (edition after 1897....most probably 1905) and have begun negotiations with a German seller to buy it. I have been searching all over the place for an example of that bronze and finally found it for a reasonable price.


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Good news! The seller and I worked out the price and the bronze will be on its way into my collection. The larger versions come up at auction on occasion but they are usually in the much higher price range. I was sitting here a couple of weeks ago searching the Internet gallery sites looking for an example of that beautiful bronze and all of a sudden this one popped up yesterday. I must be living right. I noticed last night that the world did not end as predicted. We all must be living right. It also pays to be persistent when you are looking for a specific artwork and not get discouraged. Here are the pictures of the beauty below:
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Today (May 24, 2011), I was doing an Internet search on Heinrich Baucke and I found an example of this bronze in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, although, with a completely different title. Also the date of creation (originally thought to be 1910) is listed by the Museum as "after 1897." The title of the bronze in the Museum's European Painting and Sculpture Collection is: "Barbarian Victor." Additional examples of the same bronze sold at auction list the title as: "Victorious Boxer." We have a conundrum. I have made the appropriate corrections above.
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This morning (May 25, 2011) I found some additional biographic information on this well listed German Artist/sculptor: From 1891 to 1900 he studied at the Art Academy under Sculptor Karl Janssen. His first success was this particular bronze (Winner in a Fist Fight), which is now in the collection of the Kunsthalle Dusseldorf and in the National Gallery in Berlin. After his training, he settled in Dusseldorf as a professional sculptor and was very active in the local "Association of Academic Sculptors" who displayed their works in the Rhenish Berlin Sculpture Competition. In 1903 he moved to Berlin, where he received commissions from the Kaiser Wilhelm II court, including a statue of Wilhelm III which is displayed in the garden Terrace of the Berlin Palace.
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Caption: Der Sieger (The Victorious Boxer)(The Winner)(Barbarien Victor)

Artist: Heinrich Carl Baucke (1875-1915)

Material: Bronze Casting

Dated: circa 1905

Leo Diet (Leopold Dietmann, Leo Dietmann)(1857-1942) Female Nude

eBay Germany has a new listing this morning of a very fine Academic female nude by Austro-Czech artist Leo Diet (1857-1942). Leopold Dietmann, aka Leo Diet (1857-1942), was active during the last half of the 19th century, an Orientalist, accomplished painter, illustrator, and etcher. Very nicely done female nude. I greatly admire that beautiful brush work.
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Here are a few examples of Diet's works:


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Thursday, May 19, 2011

William Frederick George Pape (1859-1920) Knabenakt im Atelier (Nude Boy in Studio)

Auktionshaus Mehlis, Plaven, Germany is offering a fine Academic nude study of a boy in their latest auction catalog. The opening bid is set at Euro 1,200.00. I suspect it will sell for far more. William Pape (1859-1920) was a pupil of Herman Prell in Berlin, J. Lerebver and Benjamin Constant in Paris during the latter part of the 19th century. He spent his career as an historical painter and illustrator. What a beautifully executed Academic Nude study.
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Caption: Knabenake im Atelier (Nude Boy in the Studio)

Artist: William Frederick George Pape (1859-1920)

Materials: Oils on Canvas

Dated: ca. 1890



F. Kogelmann (?): Standing Male Nude - 1881

The F. Kogelmann (?) male nude drawing arrived from Germany today. I scanned it in two pieces then stitched the pieces together since it was too long for the scanner. The drawing is smaller than I anticipated but is still a nice drawing. I suspect it has been removed from a sketch book based upon the glue impression running along the left side of the paper. A surprisingly nicely executed 19th century academic drawing.
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Caption: Standing Male Nude
Artist: F. Kogelmann (?)
Materials: Graphite Pencil on Paper
Dated: December 1881 - Munich

Ernst Liebermann (1869-1960) Female Nude

I have found another beautiful female nude headed for auction. The Kunst-Auktionshaus Peter Karbstein, Dusseldorf has posted the offering for an up coming auction. Ernst Liebermann (1869-1960) studied at the Berliner Akademie der Kunste from 1890 to 1893 under Professor Josef Scheurenberg. From 1897 he lived and worked as a illustrator in Munich. Originally trained as a print maker-lithographer, he later turned to painting impressionist portraits and landscapes. He specialized in the female nude.
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Caption: Sitting Female Nude
Artist: Ernst Liebermann (1869-1960)
Materials: Oils on Cardboard
Dated: Unknown

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Paul Ernst Hildebrandt (1876-1942) Sitting Female Nude, ca. 1910

Here is another beautifully executed Academic Study, this time a female nude by German artist Paul Ernst Hildebrandt (1876-1942). The painting was executed around 1910. The painting is listed in the latest offerings of Kunst und Auktionshaus Eva Aldag. This particular painting is listed in the catalog of the "Great Berlin Art Exhibition of 1910." Born in West Prussia, Paul Ernst Hildebrandt studied at the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Berlin Academy in Berlin, Germany.
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Ludwig von Hoffman (1861-1945) Dionysian Group (Meadow Dance) Nude Study ca. 1900

The Spring Auction season is in full swing. I have culled out quite a number of works and will try to post them as time permits. If you have an extra Euro 4,000.00 to get started, the Van Ham Kunstauktionen, Koln, Germany has a Ludwig von Hoffman pastel on vellum on offer for their up coming auction. It is a study for "Meadow Dance", circa 1900. Von Hofmann's works are always filled with motion and energy and I personally love his works. Enjoy.
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Caption: Dionysische Gruppe (Wiesentanz)(Meadow Dance)
Artist: Ludwig von Hofmann (1861-1945)
Material: Pastels on Vellum
Dated: circa 1900

Male Nude - Late 19th Century Vienna Academy - Unknown Artist

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Kunstauktionshaus Chiemgau, Traunstein, Germany has a beautiful 19th century Academic Male Nude Study listed in their current auction catalog. The opening bid is Euro 1,200.00 for those of you interested. It really is a beautifully executed academic study and would add great value to any collection. I am impressed with the color pallette and the brushwork.
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Unknown Artist: Academic Study, Standing Nude Ephebe - Young St. John the Baptist 1907

Several days ago I managed to take at auction the below listed drawing of a standing nude boy. The drawing is signed "Bill 07" in the upper right hand corner (American or English art student perhaps?). It comes from Provence and the identity of the artist is any one's guess. It appears from the illustrations listed in the auction to be a nicely executed drawing from the first decade of the twentieth century. Based upon that pose with the raised finger and that staff the figure is holding, my guess is a depiction of young St. John the Baptist. St. John is often portrayed as carrying a long crudely made cross and pointing up to the heavens above. I will photograph and re-post the drawing in greater detail when it arrives.
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Well, shut my mouth and call me a biscuit, never say never. I just had a brain storm. I was looking at that signature and thought perhaps the signature reads: "Billot" and not "Bill 07." Anyway, that drawing has a 19th century feel to it to my eye, so a quick Google search revealed two possible candidates: Charles-August Billot (1800-1900)(?) and Achille Billot (1834-?). Without any indication of a first name we may never know, although my money is on Charles-August Billot since he was active during the latter part of the 19th century. Neither "Billot" was listed with examples of their works for stylistic comparison. Oh well, it is obviously Young St. John. That much we can say for sure.
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Caption: Standing Nude Ephebe, Young Saint John the Baptist
Artist: Unknown, signed "Bill 07"
Material: Pierre Noire
Dated: 1907

Arthur Theo Dirkx (1896-1967) Male Portrait

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Thank God and Greyhound he's back. San Antonio is still as big as ever. I found this nice portrait this afternoon on the usual auction haunts. Arthur Theo Dirkx (1896-1967) was a Belgian artist who specialized in portraits, still life's, and genre views of towns and villages. He was recognized as an accomplished and talented watercolorist. He was the husband of Artist Simone Leconte (Brussels 1892). He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-arts de Saint-Josse-ten-noode where he was a pupil of Henri Ottevaere. Dirkx later taught drawing and painting at the same institution from 1931 to the end of his tenure.
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