Bonham’s Auction, New York “Explores and Exposes” - The Male Form - 7 June 2022

      For all you aficionado’s of the Male Nude, Bonham’s Auction in New York is offering a “Thematic Sale” starting 7 June 2022. As one might expect the majority of the works are in various mid-20th century media (photography, etc.) and by many well known 20th century artists to include: Jean Cocteau (1989-1963), Robert Maplethorpe (1946-1989), Herb Ritts (1952-2002), Horst P Horst (1906-1999), Salvador Dali (1904-1989), William L’Engle (1884-1957), Duncan Grant (1885-1978), Keith Haring (1958-1990), Paul Cadmus (1904-1999) and many more 20th century artists of whom you are probably familiar. There are a few entries from the period of the European Academy’s to include Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896), Sir Edward Coley Burn-Jones (1833-1898), and of particular note, a 19th Century French School male nude academic study on canvas, formerly in the collection of Rudolf Nureyev. Here is just a small sampling of the 19th Century works on sale. If you would like to participate in the Auction or just browse the contents, please visit their website. 

Frederic, Lord Leighton, PRA (1830-1896)

"Dancing Athlete with olive branch"

Oils on canvas

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

French School, 19th Century

"Standing Male Nude"

Oils on canvas

Formerly from the estate of

Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993)

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

"Back view of a nude male model"

Edward Hopper (1882-1967)

pencil on paper

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

Bookends: "Pushing Men"

Harriet Whitney Frishmuth (1880-1980)

Bronze with brown patina

circa 1912

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

"Les Trois Haleurs ou la Force"

Circa 1925

Maurice Guiraud-Riviere (1881-1947)

Patinated Bronze - EtLing Foundry, Paris

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

"Study of a Male Torso"

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898)

pencil on paper

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

"Music"

Percy Bryant Baker (1881-1970)

Bronze with brown patina

Update: A friend of the blog saw this announcement and did a personal visit to the Bonham’s pre-auction exhibit. He very graciously sent me some photo’s of the visit and gave me permission to share them with you. Special thanks to Daniel:

François-Léon Sicard (1862-1934) - Standing Male Nude - Circa 1879-80

 

     Well, this is one of those times when I should have done my homework. I spotted this finely executed 19th century drawing of a standing male nude on eBay France and I pulled one of my stupid collecting mistakes; I failed to research the artist and just relied upon the image itself to make an estimate on the drawings value to a savy collector. This is a drawing made when the artist studied in the studio of Jules Cavelier at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. The drawing bears the stamp of the artist's studio sale at the bottom right and is signed on the back at the top left. I programmed a bid and of course the bidding went a hundred Euros above my estimate. The drawing sold for just over four hundred Euros and I would have gladly paid many hundred Euros over that winning bid to add it to my collection. Lesson learned: Do your research dummy!

                                                The Artist in his natural habitat.

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

     Here's a short biography from the web: 

"François-Léon Sicard (April 21, 1862 – July 8, 1934) was a French sculptor in the late 19th and early 20th century. His credits include work on the adornments of the Louvre, and numerous sculptures around the world. Sicard was born in Tours, studied with Louis-Ernest Barrias, and is known for his lithography and his fiercely patriotic original works of art. Despite the prolific populace of noted works throughout Europe, surprisingly little is known about Sicard himself. His work is very similar to that of Gustave Crauk (1827–1920) and Antoine-Augustin Préault (1809–1879), and he may have worked in collaboration with Crauk on some of his sculptures during the early 20th century."

      And here is the drawing I missed:

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

Here are just a few of his many celebrated works:

Male and Female Nudes - 18th Century Intaglio Print: Adam & Eve ... Unattributed

 

I was doing my usual rounds on the European eBay sites this morning when I came across this unique 18th Century intaglio print of the classic subject of "The Temptation of Eve." The asking price was ridiculously low so I snapped it up. It appears to be on thick laid paper and features all the undercurrents of an 18th century "highly erotic, as close to a pornographic depiction as you can get without falling afoul of the church" depiction of biblical sexual seduction. Adam (featured in all his masculine attributes, beard, bulging muscles and "give me that apple you fabulous wench" gaze) is there in all his masculine glory reaching for that "apple" (The symbol of love, wisdom, and, alas, death in art) which is conveniently located where the center of female pleasure lies (at least for some males) and not isolated up on a branch in a tree! The various depictions of "Adam & Eve" has always been one of my favorite artistic subjects but this is the first time I have seen it depicted in such a blatantly erotic manner. The snake is whispering in Adam's ear (Go get it big boy, it's there if you want it, take it, God won't mind...he really won't mind!) and I am immediately reminded of that age old joke about sex: "Thy beauty lies between your thighs!" (Yes sir, it's right there where it's supposed to be... see that apple!)...And within this image we have all the symbolism of good wholesome down in the dirt sex. The rabbit is associated with the "moon deities" and may signify rebirth or resurrection and may also be associated with fertility or sensuality. The snake, like its serpentine penile shape, also represents male fertility or a creative life source and the continual renewal of life, and of course (boo, hiss, boo!) "sin" in biblical terms. The "leopard" can symbolically represent strength, agility, perception, and rare beauty in art (attributes of both male and female nude subjects). My guess is what we have here is an 18th century depiction of precoital sex. This image must have been responsible for many an enjoyable cock-stand on young virgin gents in the 18th century.... Enjoy

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

Here are just a few of the many depictions of Adam & Eve in the 18th Century...

Oops!  My Bad! That's the nitwit braying jackass President of the United States in his most recent Presidential Portrait! Just deal with it, we are!

Josef JUNGWIRTH (1869-1950) Akt / Female Nude ..... Executed in Pastels

      

     Another beautiful drawing by Joseph Jungwirth (1869-1950) (See previous posts for Bio) has come on to the auction market. This time it is a beautiful female nude executed in color pastels. Again, Jungwirth shows us his great artistic talent and control of his chosen medium. Enjoy:

                                 

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

April 21, 2022... I happened upon another female nude by Jungwirth today, this time a nice study in

oils on canvas dated 1920. Enjoy: