Academic Nudes of the 19th Century

Alexis (Alix) Marquet (1875-1939) - Bronze - Nude Girl with A Rose

2012-02-29T14:22:00.005-05:00

*
The small (just under twelve inches) Alix Marquet (1875-1939) female nude bronze arrived from Germany on Saturday. The first thing I noticed when I picked her up was that she was one solid and somewhat top heavy bronze. She has some condition problems, which I hope can be corrected. Her patina is mostly intact with some minor scrapes and wear spots but it is a lovely dark chocolate brown. I believe the damage to her legs is a result of being somewhat top heavy and may have resulted from someone dropping her. Oh well, she had an acceptable low price for the quality of the casting and after I get the other bronze back from Masterworks Studios I will send her off and let John Ward work his magic on her. She is rare and unique when it comes to nudes. You just do not find pre-adolescent female nudes that often. Alix Marquet has sculptures in some major museums around the world so I am happy to have her in my collection.
------------------------------------------------

Monogrammist "L.C" ......19th Century French Sanguine Drawings From The Antique - Dated 1802

2012-02-22T16:30:00.004-05:00

A seller on eBay France listed this nice series of sanguine drawings from the antique this morning. They are not large drawings, slightly larger than a legal sized piece of paper, but the seller has listed them for prices that I honestly believe will never find a buyer. They are monogrammed "L.C." and dated 1802. For the life of me I cannot figure out why a seller would be asking over three hundred and fifty euros each for these drawings. Value depends upon many things, subject matter (nude boys bring the most, followed by male nudes, and at the low end are female nudes; if you own a pre-adolescent female nude of good quality, you can name your own price, they are just that rare), medium, condition, age, and an identifiable, listed artist. These drawings are nicely executed but certainly not worth the equivalent of four hundred fifty dollars each. At that price, the seller will have them long enough to love them even more than he does now or he may be forced to lower those outrageous prices quite a bit. The market will find their value quite quickly and it is definitely not what he is asking. I suspect the seller has no experience in the market and simply pricing them according to the age and some dream in his or her head. I found two nice early male nudes recently on eBay France and made the seller a discounted offer on both. He came back saying he had twenty watchers and had been offered about twenty euros more than my offer. A few minutes ago I noticed they had not sold and he has re listed them at twenty euros less than my offer. Watchers are just that most of the time....... simply watching. A real serious buyer will have programmed an automatic bid on a bidding site like bidnapper and you won't see him before seven or eight seconds before the auction ends. That's called "lurking." You will never know he's there until you see his winning bid. Buying the work of art is his purpose, not driving the price up with an open bidding war. Dreams are funny things when they run up against market realities, they tend to burst like bubbles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friedrich Kaspar Heising (1821-1902): Academic Male Nude Painting, dated 1841

2012-02-20T15:06:00.001-05:00

Addendum: (February 21) Goods news! I found an international shipper in Germany who will handle the shipment and export licenses in Germany and I just bought this beautiful work for my collection! It should be on its way after March 1.

This beautiful academic nude turned up on a European auction site this morning. I tried to buy it but the seller does not want to export outside the European Union. We are trying to work something out though. Apparently the paperwork for exporting artworks over a certain value is enough to turn one off completely. Friedrick Kasper (Casper) Leising (1821-1901) was a well known painter during the mid to late 19th century. Unfortunately I could not find much in the way of biographic information but this is a very nice example of 19th century academic art.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is an exampkle of his mature works:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karl Jobst (1835-1907): Male Nude Drawing, Ca. 1900

2012-02-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

This beautiful male nude drawing by Austrian painter and watercolorist Karl Jobst (1835-1907) appeared on one of the eBay auction sites this morning. Jobst was a well known historical-genre painter in Vienna at the end of the 19th century. He and his brother, Franz Jobst (1840-1890), owned a well known and famous atelier specializing in architextural and commercial commissions. What caught my eye was that heroic pose, which reminds me of Sargent's male nudes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is just a small sampling of his works:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown 18th-19th Century Artist: Male Nude Posed As A Roman Soldier

2012-02-17T09:39:00.000-05:00

This nicely executed 18th-19th century drawing appeared on eBay France this morning. Unfortunately, it is not signed nor dated and most probably is a study for a religious painting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown 19th Century German Artist: Nude Ephebe With Flute (Nude Boy With Flute)

2012-02-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

The 19th century drawing of the nude ephebe holding the flute arrived yesterday. What was supposed to be two drawings turned out to be a double-sided drawing on one piece of paper. The female nude on the reverse side is somewhat problematic in its execution and the paper required some repair on that side, so I had to choose one of them to apply linen archival tape to and the nude ephebe won the battle since the image was not affected. The paper is somewhat fragile and, god-forbid, someone used scotch tape to apply the paper to an obviously acidic mat. That is definitely a very big no-no in the preservation of 19th century paper. Fortunately it does not impinge on the male nude but did effect the drawing on the back. You win some and you lose some. I scanned both drawings for you below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Margarete Schneider-Reichel (1891-1944): Loving Couple (ca. 1930)

2012-02-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

This nice painting popped up on the European auction scene recently. Margarete Schneider-Reichel (1891-1944) was a German painter known for her children's book illustrations.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Max Bohac (?): Lovers - Nudes in Landscape

2012-02-14T16:58:00.004-05:00

Auction Vltavin, Prague, CZ has just listed this early 20th century work by Max Bohac (?), a Czech artist who was active during the first half of the 20th century, titled Lovers. Unfortunately, I have found scant biographic information on him to pass along. The activity depicted in the painting could have been a recruiting poster for that pre-World War II Czech government program encouraging young people to buy land before the Germans bought it all up or just took it. I believe the program was called: "Get lots while you're young." I know, I'm bad. That's an old Benny Hill joke. Enjoy.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown 19th Century Artist: Young Faun with Goat

2012-02-14T16:13:00.003-05:00

Siebers Auktionen, Stuttgart, DE. has listed this fun work in their current auction catalog. Unfortunately, it is not signed but dates from the latter part of the 19th century. It has some condition problems which, with a little bit of money, could be easily corrected. Still, a very playful painting.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marie Augustin Zwiller (1850-1939): Academic Drawing of a Nude Boy

2012-02-13T11:04:00.003-05:00

When someone tells you "What goes around, comes around" then believe them. Last month a German seller posted this academic drawing of a nude ephebe by Marie Augustin Zwiller (1850-1939). I made a pleasant enquiry regarding the lot, shipping charges, an immediate buy price, and received a verbal thrashing. Now I am known on eBay for my "you get more flies with honey than vinegar" approach, so I carried on in my mild mannered approach. I do not think I have ever had a seller be so down right mean in his reply. This guy was a horse's-ass. I had asked about a direct buy purchase price and we sent emails back and forth for a few days and I finally said "Screw it!" and gave up. I even offered to pay all of his listing fees, including his Paypal fees for what I considered a reasonable offer. After we agreed upon a price, he nails me with what I knew to be outrageous shipping charges. That's when I decided I simply did not want the problems. The auction went off without me and the drawing sold for a few hundred Euros. Guess what? This morning the drawing pops up on eBay France with a price double what I know the German seller sold it for, even with the same photograph the German seller originally listed. I have to laugh, sellers are always out for a buck or two. Unfortunately, I could find little biographic information on the artist but he is well represented in the auction world.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a small selection of his figurative works:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hans Hartmann-Maclean (1862-1946)(born Hans Rudolf Hartmann): "Christ on the Cross", Art Deco Bronze

2012-02-12T22:53:00.001-05:00

Last week I was cruising along in the various categories I monitor on eBay France and I stumbled upon something that caught my immediate attention. One of the French language categories I watch is the category of "Christ on the Cross" (in French, of course) and "Corpus Christi." Honestly, you never know what some seller is going to list with a male nude attached to it. I have browsed this particular category in all the various European auction sites, especially in the Belgian, Dutch, French, Austrian and German sites. The great majority of works depicting the crucifixion are run-of-the-mill industrially made ho-hum depictions but on occasion you will come across something that knocks your socks off. I have seen exquisite but expensive ivory (which requires permits to import) and bone carvings of Christ but when I see something with a distinct artistic feel to it such as this bronze casting below, I have to take a second look at that work. My first impression of this bronze was: "Wow, wait a darn minute. What do we have here?" This work has that extra something that you do not see in the everyday depictions of the semi-nude Christ. To my eye this bronze has a distinct "Art Deco" feel to it and does not have that assembly line feel you see so often. This is literally the first signed work I think I have ever seen in this category. The French seller in Bordeaux obviously had no clue what he had because he was literally giving the thing away and he made no attempt to even list the item appropriately. At the steal of a price of 30 euros he was asking, I decided to look further into it and see if I could identify the "Hartmann" stamped in the edge of the cross. I programmed an automatic bid and went about my business. What I eventually found was a very good probability that the Hartmann signature on the bronze belongs to Hans Hartmann-Maclean (born Hans Rudolf Hartmann) (1862 Dresden - 1946), a German Sculptor who was active during the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He produced many sculptural works and castings with religious themes, including some beautiful monumental church and civic works which were subsequently lost during WW II. He studied at the Dresden Art Academy from 1879 to 1885 and guess who was one of his sculpture instructors? If you guessed Johannes Schilling, then you get the prize, a free goose. If you recall from a few weeks ago, I added a male nude drawing of Schilling as model by Philip Fleischer (1850-1930) to my collection (see the last photograph below). Hartmann worked in Schilling's studio from 1881 to 1885. In 1900 Hartmann began as a lecturer at the Dresden Art Academy and later retired as a professor. My bid took the auction and this bronze work will be heading into my collection. At that give-it-away price I could not help myself. When I get it in my hands, I will clean it up and post some better photographs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are a few of Hartmann's works:

Bronze panels inside a Lutheran Church by Hartmann

The Lost Son

Adam

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here is the previously posted drawing of Johannes Schilling, Hartmann's instructor, which came into my collection several weeks ago:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Philip Fleischer (1850-1930) Standing Male Nude (The Model is Johannes Schilling - Instructor in Sculpture at the Dresden Art Academy)

Thomas Couture (1815-1879): Male Portrait

2012-02-11T12:35:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite Parisian eBay sellers has listed this beautiful portrait by the famous French painter and art instructor Thomas Couture (1815-1879. I love the very competent way he handles paints on canvas in this lively portrait. Couture was a student of the famous Antoine-Jean Gros from 1830 to 1838 and Paul Delarouche from 1838 to 1839. Couture tried at least on three occasions to win the Prix de Rome but never achieved higher placement than second prize. He quickly became disgusted with the strict politics of the academic system and finally withdrew, taking an independent path in the French art world. He later became a staunch opponent of the stultified curriculum of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and even went so far as to discourage his own students from entering this hallowed institution. He first became notorious in the Parisian scene with his entry in the Paris Salon with his painting "Young Venetians after an Orgy." I would have loved to have seen the faces of the public viewing that work. What made his works attractive to the Parisian audience was his use of bright color and surface texture, which were derived from such painters as Decamps and Delacroix. Regardless of his personal bent, his methodical drawing techniques demonstrated his mastery of the now hated academic tradition.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------

Here is just a small selection from his very productive career:

L'avaro ... 1876

Head of a Woman .. 1853

Drummer Boy

Charles Baudelaire and Apollonie

The Fugitive - Study for Timon of Athens

The Little Bather

Eugene Delecluse (1882-1972): Nude Bathing Scenes

2012-02-09T19:25:00.009-05:00

*
This series of nude bathing scene paintings by Eugene Delecluse (1882-1972) was listed on a French auction site back in December of last year and I thought I would share them with you. I have been trying to search through the backlog of material I downloaded over the holidays and get some of them posted. I was attracted to these paintings by their playful, slightly erotic content, and by the artist's brush work and use of color, especially in the flesh tones. Eugene Delecluse studied in Paris under Cormon, Delance, Renard, and Walther. He began to exhibit at the Salon des Artistes Francais in 1903 and at the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1915. He was appointed an official war artist by the French government during the Great War. After the war he earned the reputation of a popular portraitist and was in great demand by celebrities of the day. He later started his own studio, Academie Delecluse, in Montparnasse where he trained visiting Americans, especially women. He was also known for his lively works of street life in Paris and of his extensive travels in England, Eastern Europe, and North Africa.
------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------

Here is just a small sampling of his works:

----------------------------------------------

Alexis (Alix) Marquet (1875-1939) - Nude Girl With A Rose

2012-02-09T12:51:00.009-05:00

Addendum ( 02/14/12): The seller in Germany and I have finally agreed upon a sales price and this nice little bronze will be on its way into my collection tomorrow. I have spoken to John Ward of Masterworks Studio's and he has given me a preliminary estimate on repairs. She will have a nice home here.
*
A seller in Germany has recently listed this bronze of a nude girl by Alix Marquet (1875-1939) at what I think is a price too dear considering the condition. I am getting some first hand experience with bronze repair and it can get expensive. The thing I dislike about some of the European eBay sites is the propensity of sellers listing artworks to list an item with scant descriptive information. They list the bare essentials and refer you to the posted photographs for condition. This seller in particular describes those stress cracks in the ankles as "casting breaks." Somehow I really doubt a reputable 19th-20th century casting foundry would let a mistake like that out for public sale. That bronze would have been tossed back into the crucible and melted before it ever made it out the door for sale. I suspect those breaks are from dropping the bronze at an oblique angle, but that's just my observation. She seems to be leaning back against gravity too much when you compare the bronze to the illustration of the original sculpture below. I honestly would buy this bronze regardless of the damage if the listed price was more in line with the condition. Figurative works of young girls are that rare. Alexis Marquet was a listed French sculptor who did some well known monumental works and whose works are in major French museums.
------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------
Here is the original scultpure (below):
-----------------------------------------------------

European eBay Offerings

2012-02-09T12:26:00.008-05:00

*
Here are a few current eBay site offerings:
--------------------------------------------

20th Century French School .. Standing Male Nude

Late 19th century French School .... Male Nude

Arthur Kampf - Female Nude ... dated 1916

Frans Stuck ... Playing Fauns

Hans Bohler .... Monogrammed H.B. ... Nude Boy With Sea Shell

G Schadow ... Adam and Eve (modern Reproduction from the original)

Monogrammist N.P. ... Young Faun with Butterfly

Oreste Costa (1851-1910)..... Young St. John

French School - late 19th century... Standing female nude

Camille Bellanger (1853-1919) Study from the Antique

Robert Lepeltier (1913-1996) Standing Male Nude

Johann Zick (1702-1762) Male Nude

Recent Lots in the Hungarian Auction Scene

2012-02-09T11:42:00.009-05:00

*
I had a chance to take a look at some of the recent auction offerings in the Hungarian art market and pulled out a number that I thought were worthy of posting. That third posting down brings back some fond memories of the painting studio. I really like the way the artist has handled the studio atmosphere in the background. You can almost smell the turpentine, although now days you won't find turpentine in use in the modern classroom, but I remember it from years ago. Enjoy.
------------------------------------------------

Bertalan Szekely (1835-1910) Study for "The Source"

18th century Italian School... Young St. John

Izsak Perlmutter (1866-1932) Studio Model

Laslo Mednayanszky (1852-1919) Semi-nude Boy in profile .. ca. 1900

Italian School .. 17th century .. Herckules es Omphale

Lajos-Riado Bosko ... untitled

Joseph D'Aste (1905-1935) Faun with goat

Erdelyi Ferenc (1901-1959) Irgalmassag 1928

D. Fachinetti ... Classical figure

Karoly Ferenczy (1862-1917) .. Festo es modellek

Gargiulo es Cannone (1880-?) Curbing the bull

Izsak Perlmutter (1866-1932) Male Nude Study

Jeges Jelzessel ... Young Male Nude

Kadar Geza (1878-1952) Artist at Work

Lotz Karoly (1833-1904) The Three Graces

Manno Miltiades Birkozok . 1920

Medgyessy Ferenc (1881-1958) The Little Rider

Nandor Viday Brenner (1903-?) Miner

Pergola Romolo (1890-1960) Female Nudes ... 1933

Remenyi Jozsef (1887-1951) Tancolok ... 1911

Rona Jozsef (1861-1939) Faun ...1927

Szalay Antal (1900-?) Love

Current European eBay and German Auction House Finds:

2012-02-03T13:28:00.011-05:00

*
I thought I would post a few of the current interesting selections that I culled from the European eBay and some German Auction House sites for you. Most are late 19th and early 20th century works and there is one unusual and rare female nude study in colored pencils below. Enjoy.
-------------------------------------------------

Philip Whichelo (1905-1989) Study of a Nude Boy

Paul Schad-Rossa ... Male Nude Study

Richard Muller .. Silver Print... Male Nude Study

Prof. Franz Stassen (Attrib.) Ruhender Pan (Resting Pan)

Percy Tarrant (1879-1930) (Oils on academy board) .. Message From The Gods

O. Posselt .. Sitzender Hirtenknabe in Gebirgslandschaft

Newlyn School .. Charcoal and turpentine sketch on canvas... Study of a Standing Male

Ferencz Gaal (1891-1956) Female Nude Study

Albert Aereboe (1889-1970) Wounded Amazon

Italian School ... Circa 1800

French School , Late 19th century.... Female Nude in Profile

Albert Penot (1870-1930) Female Nude Study

H.R. Riese ... Athlet mit Bogen, un 1930

Early 20th century Russian School ..... Girl in a Bonnet

Philip Fleischer (1850-1930): Stand Male Nude - 1900

2012-02-02T13:31:00.008-05:00

The Philip Fleischer male nude drawing arrived from Germany today. I scanned it and have posted the results below. It is not a large drawing yet it is very detailed and acomplished in the fine detail. The top of his shoulders and chest are highlighted with white chalk. I think these small graphite drawings are my favorite.
--------------------------------------------

Male and Female Nudes - Painted Plaster Bas-Relief - circa. 1800

2012-01-30T17:12:00.003-05:00

This is something I can honestly say I have never seen before. Antiquariat Peter Kiefer, Buch und Kunstauktionen, Pforzheim, DE has recently listed this oddity in their current auction catalog. I do not recall ever seeing a male and female academic nude executed in low-relief in a painted plaster medium before. According to the auction house, this group of reliefs dates from around 1800. I am guessing they were used in art instruction. (?) Interesting, none the less.
----------------------------------------------

19th Century Italian School: Male Nude Wrestlers

2012-01-30T16:05:00.004-05:00

*
Kunstauktionshaus Chiemgau, Traunstein, DE has listed this academic study of two male nude wrestlers by an unknown Italian artist from the mid-19th century in their current catalog. Unfortunately, the painting is not signed and the auction description does not give much information on the lot.
-------------------------------------

Wilhelm Marstrand (1810-1873): Adam and Eve

2012-01-28T12:10:00.006-05:00

Portraits of the artist during various times in his life.

-----------------------------------------

I was browsing through auction archives this morning and ran across this beautiful Adam and Eve painting by the Danish painter Wilhelm Marstrand (1810-1873) and thought I would share it with you. Wilhelm Marstrand was a well known Danish instrument maker, inventor, and artist who was active during what has been described as "The Golden Age of Danish Painting." He studied at Copenhagen's Metropolitan School but books just did not do it for him. A family friend and painter, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, also a Professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Art, recommended a career in art. At age 16, Mastrand began his studies in art under the tutelage of Eckersburg from 1826 to 1833. He later became a renowned history painter, demonstrating grand classical themes from mythology and history. He went on to be named Chancellor of the Art Academy. During the later years of his life he turned to religious themes.

------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------

Here is just a small sampling of his many works:

----------------------------------------------

Monogrammist "P.P" - Bas-Relief - Arbeiter Industrie - ca. 1930

2012-01-27T09:27:00.005-05:00

*
A seller in Austria has listed another one of those beautiful Bas-relief bronzes from the 1930's. The artist is not identified beyond the monogram "P.P." and this time the subject matter is typical of the 1930's ... The Industrial Worker. It has that wonderful Art Deco feel to it and just oozes strength and nobility.
---------------------------------------------------

Philip Fleischer (1850-1930): Standing Male Nude - 1900

2012-01-26T11:05:00.009-05:00

*
This morning I cranked up the computers and this drawing popped up on eBay Austria. One of my favorite sellers in Germany had listed it. It was listed at an affordable Buy-it-now price and I grabbed it. It is unique in that the model himself is identified in a notation at the bottom. The notation identifies the model as "Johannes Schilling." Schilling it turns out was a noted Sculptor.

Philip Fleischer (1850-1930) studied at Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld in Dresden and at the Munich Academy of Fine Art under Karl von Piloty. He traveled extensively to Italy, England and to Paris. He specialized in historical panoramas, genre scenes, portraits, and illustrations.
----------------------------------------------------

Caption: Standing Male Nude (Model noted as Johannes Schilling - sculptor)

Artist: Philip Fleischer (1850-1930)

Medium: Graphite on wove Paper (Signed and dated)
Dated: 4/10/1900

------------------------------------------------------

Here is an example of his other works:

------------------------------------------------------

Portrait of a Young woman in Profile

19th Century French Prints - "Roman Soldier" and "The Fighter"

2012-01-25T12:39:00.005-05:00

*
The two 19th century French prints I bought several weeks ago arrived yesterday. I must admit that in person they are large and impressive. There is some foxing and that light water damage but the overall effect is quality printing. I do not see a plate mark around the edges so exactly what they are (lithographs, etchings, engravings, or crayon manner prints) will remain up for speculation. My guess ...... engravings? The water damage-discoloration is not that obvious to the naked eye but the camera picks them up as quite distinct against the paper color. The first photograph was converted to gray-scale and gives pretty much the same look as the naked eye. The attribution in French at the bottom translates "Drawing after nature by Hervier serious student of David and by Perrot." The "Hervier" in question is possibly Marie-Antoine Hervier (1783-?), who was a pupil of Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825). He was a miniaturist painter of some fame. The "Perrot" in question is most probably Aristide Michel Perrot (1793-1879), the famous French engraver-cartographer & essayist.
------------------------------------------------

Soldat Romain .......... Roman Soldier

Lutteur .... The Fighter or Wrestler

Academic Nudes from the Archives of Tajan Auction House, France

2012-01-24T10:46:00.010-05:00

*
Emmanuel Michel Benner (1873-1965) Female Study
-----------------------------------------------

I spent most of yesterday and this morning going through thousands of archived lots from the French auction house Tajan, looking for those gems of academic nudes that I thought you would enjoy. The auction house has a funky way of listing their auctions and after wading through their "Modern and Contemporary" auctions and almost tossing my cookies (I thought I would have to call my local suicide hot line after all that garbage that poses as "art" and have them talk be down from the roof) so I stuck to the 19th century and earlier auctions of the "Old Masters." Most of the posts I have for you will be from the 18th century and beyond, with a few nice 19th century examples. I saved literally 175 files so this will take some time to cull through and post, so bear with me. I thought I would pick out what I thought were some really fine examples of purely academic works and post those first to keep them from getting lost in the crowd. Enjoy (My thanks to Tajan for the illustrations and attributions)
-----------------------------------------------

Antonin Mercie (1845-1916) La Vierge Noire

Jules Girardet (1856-1946) Pan

Michel Martin Drolling (Attrib.)(1786-1851) Standing Male Nude

Pierre-Narcisse Guerin (attrib.)(1774-1833) Academie d'Homme

18th Century French School, Circle of Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre (1713-1789)

18th Century Italian school, Neoclassical Study

Emmanuel Michel Benner (1873-1965) Nu Feminin 1892

Francois Joseph Deutsch (1784-1860) Academie d'homme en pied tirant a l'arc

Georges Antonie Rochegrosse (1859-1938) La Glorie de Sportif

Jean-Jacques Karpff (1770-1829) Standing Male Nude

Julius Gari Melchers (1860-1932) Bathers

Paul-Desire Trouillebert (1829-1900) Academie

Garcon Nu allonge sur une nappe imprimee - 1908 (This is an Egon Schiele work - not sure how it go into the stack of auction finds but will leave it)

Mariano Fortuny y Marsal (1838-1874) Etude pour le joueur de flute

Auction Watercolor Finds

2012-01-24T10:02:00.006-05:00

Monogrammist LK: Verkiebtes Paar aus Schubertzeit (ca. 1900-1901)

K. Hajek - Wiener Sanger Knabe .. ca, 1918

----------------------------------------
I had a chance to wonder through the watercolor sections of the European eBay sites and pulled out a few accomplished works (at least I thought they were accomplished). Academic nudes in this medium are few and far between so I had to settle for mostly landscapes with a few figurative works. There are a couple of gouache (above) included. I have included two WW II illustrations mainly because of the action and accomplished drawing. When I get a chance I may re-post the few academic nudes in my collection just to illustrate that academic nudes do exist in the watercolor medium.
--------------------------------------

Julius Paul Junghanns (1876-1958) Bauer mit Pferdefuhrwerk

J. Weinhauser - Landscape -1904

Gunter Bieling - War Scenes - May 1944

Erhart Amadeus Dier - Battle Scene

Friedrich Frank (1890-1939)

Edward Harrison Comptom (1881-1960) Pontresina

Fritz Lach (1868-1933) Wiener Karlskirche

(?) Diefenbach - Untitled - 1892

Monogrammist W.H. - Untitled

And Now For A Little Something Completely Different: Genre and Figurative Works at Auction

2012-01-22T13:04:00.007-05:00

*
The European auction season is just barely starting to pick up again and I thought I would treat you to some figurative, landscape, and genre scene gems I have come across. Some are just studies but most are competently finished works. If you have been following this blog for any length of time, then you know I am a sucker for fancy brushwork, comprehensive and accomplished use of color in paint application, and pure old fashioned competent, detailed draftsmanship. Well I think the below listed 19th century works at auction would qualify for some of these characteristics. I will readily admit I have always struggled with color and when I see a master hand at work I can just sit there for hours putting all the color pieces together, marveling at how just a dash and a swipe here and there can transcend mere paint on canvas into something alive. I might even "appropriate" a color palette for myself if I run across one I like. And, hang in there, I have some beautiful watercolors I want to throw at you next. Enjoy....
---------------------------------------

Peter Strahn ... Shepherd

Peter Strahn - Boy with Two Goats

Kunz Meyer-Walde - Untitled

Late 19th century oil on board, Portrait of a Nun

Hermann Angermeyer-Harburg (1876-1955) In The Studio

Otto Heinrich (1891-1967) Lastkahn unter Brucke

H Rogner (?) Knight on Horseback

Godard (?) Untitled Study

Georg Frederich Berlin (1868-1943) Portrait of a Boy

Eugen Felix Prosper Bracht-Morges (1842-1921) Italian Landscape

Unknown Artist, Young Woman, ca. 1900

Albert Sorkau (1874-1956)Miniature Symbolist Study for Apollon and Psychee

Herbert Grass (1886-1978): Zwei Akte im Tulpenfeld (Two Nudes in a Tulip Field)

2012-01-22T12:08:00.004-05:00

*
Henry's Auktionshaus, GmbH, Mutterstadt, DE has recently listed this beautiful nude study in their current auction catalog. The original illustration on line showed some damage to the paint, with scratches and missing paint, so I did a scratch removal and cleaned it up, somewhat back to its original look. Herbert Grass (1886-1978) was a painter and graphic artist who studied at the Akademie of Fine Arts in Leipzig at the turn of the last century.
-----------------------------------------

Caption: Zwei Akte im Tulpenfeld .......... (Two Nudes in a Tulip Field)
Artist: Herbert Grass (1886-1978)
Material: Oils on Cardboard (51 by 69 cm)
Dated: Signed and dated 1912

-------------------------------------------
Here are two examples of his graphic works:
-------------------------------------------

George Minne (1866-1941): Bronze Edition of "Adolescent I" (Nude Male Youth)

2012-01-21T14:18:00.008-05:00

(Photograph of the Artist: Second from the left)

-------------------------------------------

A Berlin Gallery has recently listed a bronze edition of George Minne's "Adolescent I" on eBay Germany. The asking price is in the five figure range so that puts me at the back of the bus. George Mimme (1866-1941) was a very well listed Belgian sculptor who was famous for his Symbolist monumental works. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent and then at the Academie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. He established his own bronze foundry in 1910. His most famous works were a series of kneeling youths and the marble sculpture of the below subject, which I believe is in the Getty Museum. Like other Symbolist's, he favored exploring human spiritual life and inner conflict. He studied architecture before going on to painting and sculpture. Minne's works overall contain a surprisingly few motifs which he explored over and over.

----------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------

Here are just a very few of the many examples of his works:

--------------------------------------------

Artur Volkmann (1851-1941): Pen and Ink Drawing - Nude Men on Horseback , 1900

2012-01-20T13:50:00.005-05:00

*
A seller on eBay Germany has posted this pen and ink drawing by Artur Volkmann (1851-1941). When I first pulled the eBay page up, I sat here scratching my head as what the subject matter might have been then I noticed the name of the artist. Volkmann is known for his male nudes and equestrian subject matter, his most famous (below) "Youth and Horse." He began his career under the tutelage of Ernst Julius Hahnel in sculpture at the Dresden Art academy from 1868 to 1873. A lot of his works involved harmonizing ideas of the ancient world and panentheism (God-is-in-everything). No doubt he was well rounded in drawing, the graphic arts, painting, and sculpture.
-------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------

Samples of Volkmann's works:

--------------------------------------------------------

Youth and Horse

Novel

Pan with goats

Book Review: Alla Prima by Richard Schmid

2012-01-20T12:02:00.003-05:00

*
Title: Alla Prima, Everything I Know About Painting
Author: Richard Schmid
Publisher: Stove Prairie Press, LLC
South Burlington, VT
ISBN: 0-9662117-3-1
--------------------------------------------

In the last post I threw out a painting term, all prima, that brought to mind one of my facorite painting instruction books: Alla Prima by Richard Schmid. Alla prima or au premier coup means "direct painting" or "painting from life." Alla prima is, according to Schmid, the ultimate in representational art because it is "about real experience and demands the highest level of skill." (Apply this to 19th century academic training and you have the very definition of "the Academie."). If you would like to learn more about all prima painting techniques, then I highly recommend this book. Schmidt covers the entire subject matter in terms of his own experience and passes along some very valuable lessions without making them "rules" to live by. The volume is a bit on the expensive side but worth the investment. Available from Amazon.com.

------------------------------------------
Here are just a few of the many color illustrations in this book:
------------------------------------------

W. Leibl - Wilhelm Maria Hubertus Leibl (1844-1900): "Bergarbeiter" - The Miner, ca, 1900

2012-01-20T10:38:00.007-05:00

Portraits of the artist
----------------------------------------------------
A seller on eBay Austria has recently listed a beautiful painting of a semi-nude male. The seller in his description was sort of non-committal in his attribution of the artist and simply listed it as "W. Leibl," as signed, then guessed at the date as "1910." A casual comparison of that signature and painting technique would strongly suggest Wilhelm Leibl (1844-1900). I tend to believe Wilhelm Leibl is the author of this fine painting. Just make a few comparisons yourself. Wilhelm Leibl began his artistic training with Hermann Becker (1817-1885), a local Cologne history painter and writer. He entered the Munich Academy in 1864, studying with several accomplished artists including Carl Theodor von Piloty. He set up a studio in 1869 and about the same time, Gustave Courbet visited Munich to exhibit his work, which biographers suggest made a considerable impression on many of the local artists by his demonstrations on alla prima painting techniques, that is, painting directly from nature. Leibl's painting techniques up to this point in his career, reflected his admiration for the Dutch Old Masters. After his exposure to Courbet, his painting style became looser and his subjects were rendered with thickly brushed paint against dark backgrounds. Later in 1869, Leibl went to Paris for a nine month stay during which time he met Edouard Manet. Throughout his painting career, his paintings united the disciplined drawing he adoped in the 1880's with a new delicacy and luminosity. Leibl painted without a preliminary drawing, setting to work directly with color, an approach to painting that has its parallels in Impressionism. He was committed to the representation of reality as the eye sees it. Leibl tended to think of his pictures in terms of "form" rather than "content." This can be illustrated below in the striking use of the sitters hands to add to the expression of the sitter's character and mood, a device he used often in his later works.
------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------

Here is just a small sampling of Leibl's beautiful works:

---------------------------------------------------------

Amedee Felix Barthelemy Geille (1802-1843): Male Nude

2012-01-19T11:51:00.002-05:00

*
Here is another nice 19th century academic study, an engraving this time. It is a product of Amedee Felix Barthelemy Geille (1802-1843) and depicts a male model leaning against several modeling blocks. Geille took the Grand Prix de Rome in 1832 and is famous for his illustrations of the collection of the "Historic Galleries of Versailles."
--------------------------------------

Lithograph from the Paris Salon of 1840 after a statue by Pierre-Charles Simart (1806-1857)

2012-01-19T11:25:00.009-05:00

Pierre-Charles Simart (1806-1857) "Oreste refugie a l'autel de Pallas"

Addendum: I did a little more research on the original sculpture and found several illustrations of the sculpture which is now in the Musee des Beaux-Arts du Roven in France (see illustrations above).

-------------------------------------------

I found this nice lithograph at auction this morning. The illustration has been converted to grey scale (above) to see the printing better, and in it's original listed form below. It is, I believe, from my translation of the French, a copy of a drawing by Flandrin after a statue of SIMART. The "Simart" in question is Pierre-Charles Simart (1806-1857), a famous French sculptor who probably executed the subject matter of this lithograph in marble. Simart was elected a member of the Academe of Beaux-arts in 1852. Still, a beautifully executed work.
----------------------------------------

Theodor Krause (1868 - 1956): Discus Thrower - From The Antique - 1885

2012-01-19T10:26:00.003-05:00

*
This beautiful example of academic drawing from the antique is currently running on eBay Germany. Theodor Krause (1868-1956) was a German painter and draftsman who was active in Dresden for many years. I recently bought another drawing of a standing nude male youth from a German auction house and posted it several weeks ago.
-------------------------------------------------

Francois-Andre Vincent (1746-1816): Standing Academic Male Nude, ca. 1770

2012-01-18T11:49:00.004-05:00

*
One of my favorite sellers on eBay France recently posted this beautiful example of an academic Male Nude study by a well known French Neoclassical painter, Francois-Andre Vincent (1746-1816). Vincent is well represented in Museums around the world. His father was an artist also (a miniaturist). The price is a bit out of my league right now but it is still a superb example of 18th century academic art.
--------------------------------------------

Unknown 19th Century German Artist: Nude Ephebe with Flute (Nude Boy With Flute)

2012-01-16T14:10:00.005-05:00

*
I took this nice 19th century Academic study of a nude boy at auction in Germany this weekend. The auction house describes a second drawing in the lot as a drawing of a "nude girl" but did not post a photograph of the entire lot so we will have to wait until the two drawings arrive to see the second drawing. Apparently the drawings are not signed but are from a late 19th century.
------------------------------------------

Heinrich Splieth (1877-1929): Horse and Male Nude Rider

2012-01-16T10:51:00.007-05:00

*
Portrait of Professor Heinrich Splieth, Berlin Academy of Art

-----------------------------------------------

This beautiful equestrian bronze with male nude rider (below) is currently listed on eBay Austria. It is by the German Sculptor Heinrich Splieth (1877-1929). Splieth grew up under an artistic father who was an accomplished wood carver. He studied under Prof. Wilhelm Haverkamp at the Berlin Academy of Art. Splieth specialized in portrait heads, animal figures, equestrian figures, fountains and other monumental works. He later taught at the Berlin Academy of Art until his death in 1929).

------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------

Here is a small sampling of his wonderful works:

-------------------------------------------------

Bareback 1919

Cheval de concours ... 1910

Hans Tichy (1861-1925): Standing Male Model, ca. 1880

2012-01-16T10:05:00.005-05:00

*
A seller on eBay Austria recently listed this nice standing male model academic oils on canvas by the Austrian painter Hans Tichy (1861-1925). It is most probably from his student years. It dates from the late 1880's. Tichy studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1880 to 1884 under Christian Griepenkerl and August Eisenmenger. He later worked as a Professor at the same institution in Vienna.
----------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------

Here is an example of his mature works:

----------------------------------------------

Pierre Munier-Jolain (1888-1922): Female Nude Academic Study

2012-01-14T09:46:00.006-05:00

*
A seller on eBay France posted this nice double sided Female Nude academic study by French painter Pierre Munier-Jolain (1888-1922). Munier-Jolain was a painter of genre scenes, landscapes, watercolors, and a commercial illustrator. He was a student of Jean-Paul Laurens at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He also persued a course at the Academie Julian.

This study is particularily interesting in that it illustrates some very interesting 19th century application of paint and color, not to mention the color palette itself and tallented brushstroke techniques.
---------------------------------------

Hermann Moest (1868-1945): Nude Boy on the Beach

2012-01-11T12:57:00.004-05:00

Kunst & Auktionshaus Walter Ginhart, Germany has listed a Hermann Moest (1868-1945) nude study in their after sale catalog that I do not recall seeing before. It dates from the early part of the 20th century and is from the artist's personal estate according to the description.
----------------------------------------------

Erich Schdmit-Kestner (1877-1941): Abschied von Alexander (Farewell to Alexander)

2012-01-11T11:36:00.004-05:00

*
Auktionshaus Dr. Hull, Koln, DE has recently listed this beautiful bronze, Farewell to Alexander, in their current auction catalog by the famous German sculptor Erich Schdmit-Kestner (1877-1941). Schdmit-Kestner studied at the Art Academy in Berlin and the Dusseldorf Art Academy. He took many prizes for his monumental works and later taught sculpture. I love the nobility of this particular bronze. Enjoy.
----------------------------------------------

Early 19th Century Crayon Manner Prints on the Auction Scene

2012-01-10T13:28:00.005-05:00

*
As I scanned the print sections of the various European eBay sites recently, I came upon three new crayon manner prints that I had never seen before (directly below) and I thought I would share them with you. If you would like more information on the creation and history of the crayon manner print, then please pull up the previous posts on the subject here in the blog. Crayon manner prints are often confused with lithographs but trust me they are actually etchings. Enjoy.
------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------

Here are more examples of the crayon manner print:

--------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------

Below I have posted illustrations of an original red chalk drawing by Johann Matthais Mauch (1792-1856) which dates from approximately the same time period (late 18th - early 19th centuries) for comparison sake. The prints are more than not marked in such a way as to disclose the name of the printer and the original artist. To my eye the prints have a more mechanical feel to them than the original drawing.

-------------------------------------------------

Early 19th Century Crayon Manner Academic Nude Prints (Engravings?)

2012-01-09T09:35:00.011-05:00

Last night I bought two nice early 19th century Academic prints (above) on eBay France. The seller had them listed as "engravings" but I suspect they are more probably crayon manner etchings. I guess once I have them in my hands I can make a more positive distinction. These prints were probably used in some academic setting as copy sources for aspiring 19th century art students. I chose what I thought were the two prints in the best physical condition and concentrated my biding on those. Print restoration is not an inexpensive proposition, so I tried to decide on those prints that did not have missing paper, huge water stains, and hard creases across the paper. The foxing and mild water staining can be repaired fairly easily by bleaching but once you get into repairing more destructive type damage, such as missing paper, it gets progressively more expensive.

---------------------------------------------------

Here is the remainder of the seller's offerings:

---------------------------------------------------

Romain Etienne Gabriel Prieur (1803-1879): Standing Male Nude, ca. 1825-30

2012-01-08T13:33:00.006-05:00

A Seller on eBay France recently listed a number of academic nude drawings from the early 19th century. They date from the early 19th century (Circa 1825-1830) and appear to be quick nude studies executed in pierre noire. The seller has overpriced them, considering they are not detailed and finished drawings, in my humble opinion but the proof is in how long they sit there before someone grabs them. Prieur was a French painter and pupil of Jean-Victor Bertin (1767-1842) at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Prieur devoted his career to mostly historical landscapes. As a pupil he submitted works to various Parisian exhibitions. In 1833 he took the Prix de Rome, a considerable achievement in itself, and later continued his studies in Italy, where he remained for three years. After returning to France he won medals in 1842 and 1845 at the Paris Exhibition.
-------------------------------------------

Rudolf Henn (1880-1955): Nackter Jungling mit Spiegel (Nude Ephebe With Mirror), ca. 1900

2012-01-08T12:33:00.005-05:00

*
Addendum: The bronze is on its way to Masterworks Studio. I will keep you informed when I know how the repairs are progressing.
*
I have some good news! I have located a professional bronze repair service to restore the damage to the Rudolf Henn (1880-1955) utilitarian bronze, Nude Ephebe With Mirror. I feel very fortunate to have located John Ward's Masterworks Studios, LLC. Here is a link to his website, if you care to take a look at his professional and talented repair service: http://www.masterworksstudios.com/

Keep your fingers crossed for me and let's hope this very unique and fine work in bronze can be conserved and restored to its original beauty.
----------------------------------------------------

Early 20th Century Bronze Bas-Relief's: Pegasus, ca. 1900 and The Sculptor.,Monogrammist R.P., 1906

2012-01-08T11:17:00.010-05:00

While we are on the subject of bronze relief, a seller on eBay Austria just posted these two beautiful early 20th century bronzes. One is captioned "Pegasus," which is unsigned and undated (directly below), and the other is an homage to the Sculptor. It is by Monogrammist "R.P." and is dated 1906. Austrian sellers keep hitting the ball out of the ballpark with some really nice Art finds.
--------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Vienna Secessionist Bronze Bas-Relief: Ballspielender Knabe - Nude Boy Playing with a Ball ... Ca. 1910 - Circle of Egon Schiele

2012-01-06T10:10:00.007-05:00

The Austrian Bronze bas-relief of the Nude Boy Playing with a Ball arrived yesterday. When I picked the package up I had a shock.... it weighs eight and a half pounds. That's one heavy piece of bronze. It is quite substantial in both weight and appearance. This is a quality bronze relief, much to my surprise. It is also much larger than I had imagined. It must be a sand cast bronze since there is hardened sand-like material adhering to the inside of the back. I have checked it over closely and I cannot find a signature anywhere, so that will remain a mystery until I by some miracle run across a reference book with an illustration.
------------------------------------------------

Victor Markewitsch (1881-1931): Familie am Strand (Mother & Children at the Beach)

2012-01-02T12:08:00.005-05:00

*
Auktionshaus Jena, in Germany has posted this small but nice Impressionistic work in their latest auction catalog. It is signed "V. Markewitsch" and attributed to Victor Markewitsch (1881-1931?), a German painter active during the turn of the century. He studied in St. Petersburg, Munich, Vienna, Paris, and Frankfort. He was a member of the National Association of Visual Artists of Germany and Frankfort Assiciation of Artists. I really like the color palette and that bold use of impressionistic brush strokes.
------------------------------------------------------

Familie am Strand
Oils on canvas
28cm x 35cm

-----------------------------------------------------
Here is an example of his other works:

Young Woman At The Window

Can You Say "Appropriation" Without Smiling?

2011-12-31T11:22:00.009-05:00

Unknown Artist (circle of Ferdinand Liebermann)... Satyr riding a Ram... carved wood...ca. 1900-1910

------------------------------------------------------------

I was doing some creative browsing of German Auction Houses yesterday when I happened upon the above unsigned carved wooden figure which was listed as "circle of Hofmann." I think the Auction House may have mis-attributed the source. It doesn't take a genius to figure out where the idea of that satyr riding on a horned ram hails from. Some talented artist thought "Capricorn" by Ferdinand Liebermann was beautiful enough to do his own rendition in bronze with a little more well endowed, sexually provocative, and older male figure front and center. What a great example of artistic "appropriation."

-------------------------------------------------------------

Rosenthal ceramic figure titled "Capricorn" by Ferdinand Liebermann (1883-1941)

Hermann Knottnerus-Meyer (1875 - 1945): Female Nudes . Graces. 1909

2011-12-30T13:45:00.006-05:00

*

Self-Portrait of the artist..... Hermann Knottnerus-Meyer

--------------------------------------------------

Kunst und Akutionshaus Peter Karbstein, Dusseldorf, DE has recently listed this beautifully lyrical group of female nudes in their current Auction catalog. Hermann Knottnerus-Meyer (1875-1945) was a well known German painter and writer. He studied in Munich under the tutelage of another artist I have previously posted on here in the blog, Paul Schad-Rossa (1862-1916). He traveled extensively and had several periods of creativity during his lifetime. The auction house describes the painting as "Graces." I love the interlocking points of tension between the two figures in the foreground and those of the two figures in the background. The composition is anything but static. He became a friend and supporter of the German folk poet Hermann Lons (1866-1914). I am guessing that because of his penchant for painting mythological scenes that this painting is a depiction of "The Judgement of Paris." To my eye, that seated figure appears to be a male youth, just based upon the anatomy. Who knows?

-------------------------------------------------------

Edouard John Ravel (1847-1920): At The Fountain (Late 19th Century Drawing)

2011-12-28T09:32:00.006-05:00

*
A seller on eBay France posted this beautiful preliminary study recently. What caught my eye was the dynamic interplay of positive and negative shapes in the composition of this genre scene of a Shepherdess and sheep taking a drink from a fountain (Bergere et ses Moutons S'Abreuvant a Une Fountaine). Edouard John Ravel (1847-1920) was an important Swiss painter who was active at the important junction of the 19th and 20th centuries. He studied at the Geneva School of Art under Alfred van Muyden (1818-1898) and Barthelemy Menn (1815-1893), who was closely linked to the French art scene. Menn was also a student of Ingres, Delacroix, and a close friend of Corot's. Ravel began his art career in Paris, exhibiting at the Paris Salon in 1879. He also participated in the Universal Exhibition of 1889. Later in his life he was President of the Swiss Society of Watercolorists and taught for 20 years at the School of Fine Arts in Geneva. As you may have guessed already, he was also the uncle of the French composer, Maurice Ravel (1875-1957).
----------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------

Here is just a sampling of his fine works:

-----------------------------------------------------------

Herman Moest (1868-1945) Oils Study: Female Nude in Landscape

2011-12-23T11:47:00.005-05:00

Here's another little gem listed on eBay Austria. It is a quick study in oils on canvas of a female nude in landscape by the well listed German artist Herman Moest (1868-1945).
-----------------------------------------------------

Monogrammist "GK" ..... Art Deco: The Sailboat

2011-12-23T11:11:00.005-05:00

A seller on eBay Austria recently listed this nice little painting from the Art Deco era. It certainly has an heroic quality to it based upon the overall composition and genuine "nobility" of the two subjects. It is monogrammed "GK" and not fully signed, so the artist is lost to us. Still, it is a nicely executed figure study.
----------------------------------------------------

New Listings at La Portantina de Mattia Jona

2011-12-23T10:24:00.003-05:00

Our friend at La Portantina di Matta Jona, Milan, Italy has posted some new works on his new aquisitions page (below). I thought I would share them with you this morning.
----------------------------------------------------------

Unknown German Artist (Early 17th Century): Study for a Fountain - Three Male Nudes Strangling a Snake

Pelagio Palagi (1775-1860) Neoclassical Allegory Celebrating Napoleon

Anton Endsdorfer (1880-1960): Cupid - Nude Boy Holding a Bow

2011-12-17T11:08:00.005-05:00

*
Yesterday I was putting a large book on 19th Century bronzes on the bookshelf and almost knocked this little bronze off the shelf. I had completely forgotton he was around. He has a little damage to his bow but otherwise he has a beautiful patina. I have tried to find biographical information on the artist, Austrian artist Anton Endsdorfer (Endstorfer), without much success. There are examples of his other works and I have listed them below.
-----------------------------------------------

Caption: Cupid (Nude Boy Holding a Bow)

Artist: Anton Endsdorfer (Endstorfer) (1880-1960)

Material: Cast Bronze

Dated: Undated (1920-1930)

--------------------------------------------

Here are a few examples of his other bronze works:

--------------------------------------------

(?) Neeb: Young Faun .. 1904

2011-12-16T15:18:00.004-05:00

*
Here is the second small bronze that arrived yesterday. I have not been able to find any biographical information on the artist however. The bronze is signed "Neeb" and dated 1904. That is the extent of the information I can find on the artist. Stylistically, this bronze is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the "David with the head of Goliath" bronze. The young faun depicted seems to be somewhat stylized and more feminized. That's not a bad thing, it is just an observation. This bronze seems to be a bit more beat up but after a good wax and polish seems to clean up pretty well. I am not sure what causes that pose he is in, perhaps there is a bee in his tail. There seems to be a place on the top of the tail that once held a small insect. He seems to be surprised by something back there though. My guess is that his right hand on that extended right arm once held a flower and a bee was once caught in his tail. I have seen that motif in other bronzes of nude fauns. I love the little horns on his forehead and that little goat hangy thing on his neck (I think it is called a tassel). What ever has his attention has caused him to drop his pan flute, which lies at his feet. The patina on this bronze is a cross between a dark brown interspersed with a Verde Gris color.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Caption: Nude Faun

Artist: (?) Neeb

Material: Cast Bronze

Dated: 1904

Hans Muller (1873-1937): David with the head of Goliath - Bronze, ca. 1900-1910

2011-12-16T14:00:00.010-05:00

---------------------------------------------

The two small bronzes I bought last month arrived from the auction house in Germany today. I will start with Hans Muller's "David with the head of Goliath." The casting is surprisingly crisp and detailed for such a small bronze. I cleaned it up and applied a coat of wax yesterday and it really is impressive. There is a small amount of wear and tear but nothing which would detract from the overall effect. Instead of the usual muscular figure you so often see of David (see the bronze depiction above), Muller has chosen to depict his David as a slim youth, slight of muscular build, and almost frail in stature. You have to wonder if that boy was even capable of picking up that massive sword, much less rendering Goliath headless with it. Muller has chosen to represent his version of the paradign of victory over adversity as a skinny, long of limb, post-pubescent boy, clothed only in a leather strap that almost, but not entirely, covers his manhood. The artist has been careful to include an outline of his manhood behind that leather strap to reassure you of his budding gender. His eyes are cast down at his handy work and that contraposito-like pose reinforces his powerful victory stance.

-----------------------------------------------

Caption: David with the head of Goliath

Artist: Hans Muller (1873-1937)

Material: Cast Bronze

Dated: ca. 1900-1910

European eBay Auction Offerings: December 2011

2011-12-14T12:36:00.005-05:00

*
Here are a few items culled from the various European eBay sites:
-------------------------------------------------
Gino von Finetti (1877-1955) David and Goliath

F. Preiss (?) Sitting Male Youth

Rudolf Yelin der Altere (1864-1940) Bathing Maidens

Renee Sintinis (1888-1965) Jungling mit Pferd (Nude Youth with Colt)

Oskar Larsen (1882-1972) Hyade

Oskar Larsen (1882-1972) Vor dem Bade - 1931

Franz Amann ... The Mermaid

Francois Jouffroy (1806-1882) The Secret

Margot Werner-Galow (1902-1984) Male Nude

Karl Spandau ... Study Sketch from a sketchbook. 1907

Late 18th Century Pen & Ink Drawing: Suzanne et les Vieillards (Suzzanna and The Elders)

2011-12-14T11:04:00.005-05:00

*
One of my favorite Parisian Sellers on eBay France listed this beautiful late 18th century pen and ink drawing recently, most probably a preparatory drawing for a painting. I really love the composition and all that movement.
------------------------------------

Mid-December 2011 Auction Finds

2011-12-13T13:40:00.004-05:00

The European Auction season is winding down somewhat for the holidays so there is not much out there to present to you but I did manage to find a few notable works. Enjoy:
--------------------------------------------

Hugo Ernst Schnegg (1876-1950) Zwei Kinder

Niccolo Renieri (1590-1667) Young St. John (?)

Ludwig von Lofftz (1845-1910) Der Schmied von Kochel

Jugendstil Illustration - Fidus

Horst-Maria Einoder - Two nudes in Landscape

Hans Arnoldt (1860-1913) Nude Pair

18th - 19th European School - Study of a Nude Boy

17th Century Utrecht School - Young Man Playing a Flute

Cornelis Van Haarlem (1562- 1638) Judgment of Paris .. ca. 1611

Julius von Blass (1888-1934): Hunter On The Target

2011-12-13T11:38:00.007-05:00

*
Portrait of the Artist by his father, Karl von Blaas (1815-1884)

Auktionshaus Ursula Nusser, Munich, DE put this gem up on the current catalog recently. I got a good chuckle out of it. I do not think I have ever seen a serious painting depicting this kind of activity. This is a first for me. Julius von Blass (1888-1934) came from a family of artists and he studied under his father. His works mainly consisted of equestrian subjects and country Genre scenes (of which I would guess this painting qualifies). Anyway, I got a good laugh out of it.

---------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------

Here is a sampling of his other works:

-----------------------------------------------

Franz Graf (1880-1950): Two Boys in a Boat on Lake Mark

2011-12-13T11:07:00.002-05:00

Auktionshaus Henry, Mutterstadt, DE posted this nice work in their catalog recently. If you look carefully you can see the influence of another great German Painter in the composition and execution. The painting is dated 1920 and depicts two youths in a boat on Lake Mark. Actually, Franz Graf (1880-1950) was a pupil of Lovis Corinth and the influence shows. This work reminds me of the works of Christian Landenberger (1862-1927) in choice of subject matter and paint application.
--------------------------------------------