Academic Nudes of the 19th Century

Monday, May 9, 2011

19th Century Atelier: Male Nude Portrait circa 1850

It doesn't take but one brief look at this academic male torso study to know that the artist who created it knew exactly what he was doing and had an accomplished professional eye. This unknown artist had complete control of his color palette and with competent brush strokes successfully captured the effects of light falling on the model directly onto his canvas. This is what it is all about folks, pure and simple. Every artist worth his salt should have been trained to produce a work like this but this result is something one seldom sees in this day and age. As far as the holes in that canvas, believe me, any competent restoration specialist can reweave that canvas, match the colors, and return this painting to a beautiful whole state. I am in awe at the competent brush work and color application.

I will leave for San Antonio soon and will return next week. My youngest son is graduating from the University of Texas and getting his officer's bars in the US Army at a commissioning ceremony later in the week. He is headed to Germany for three years and hopefully that will mean three trips to Germany in the future. Cheers and see you all soon.
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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Edward Veith (1856-1925): Nude Studies, circa 1900

The moment I hit my favorite haunts on eBay Austria this morning I ran across two beautiful watercolors by Eduard Veith (1856-1925). They are priced a bit beyond my means right now but I would really love to add "The Pearl", below, to my collection. Eduard Veith was a student of the Vienna Art Academy and studied under Professor F. Laufenberg. He received additional training in Paris. He made several study trips to Italy, Belgium, and Tunisia. During his lifetime, Veith won many awards and prizes, including the Reichel Prize, the Archduke Karl Ludwig Medal and the Kaiser Prize. He held exhibitions in Antwerp, Berlin, and Vienna. He took gold and bronze medals in Paris also. From 1890 he was a member of the Vienna Kunstlerhauses. Really beautiful works by a very talented artist of the late 19th century.
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Eduard Veith (1856-1925) Die Perle in Der Muschel, circa 1900

Eduard Veith (1856-1925) Akte in Landschaft, circa 1900

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

19th Century French Atelier of Hyppolite Flandrin 1860: Nu Academie Jeune Garcon (in the manner of Jules Elie Delaunay - 1828-1891)

I have made an offer on a beautiful drawing of an ephebe listed as "in the manner" of Jules Elie Delaunay (1828-1891). The majority of his drawings are stamped so this attribution may be a stretch of the imagination. Still, it is a very nicely executed drawing. Fingers crossed the offer is accepted.
The seller accepted but I have had second thoughts and several other really nice prospects have presented themselves. I will keep an eye on this and perhaps revisit it at a later date.
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Caption: Nu Academie Jeune Garcon, Ecole de Flandrin

Artist: (In The Manner of) Jules Elie Delaunay (1828-1891)

Medium: Graphite, heightened with white chalk

Dated circa 1860

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Here are a few additional examples of the works of Jules Elie Delaunay:

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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Current European Auction Finds: April 2011

Here are the remainder of the artworks currently listed in German Auction Houses. I am cross-eyed from stitching these things back together so I will come back later and make the appropriate attributions regarding the artists. Enjoy:
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