"Liebe" Nackter Engel Mit Saty ....."Love"..Nude Angel With Satyr. Female Nude - Mid 20th Century

I spotted this beautiful painting last week on eBay Germany. I instinctively knew that the low bidding wouildn't last very long. Sure enough the bidding stopped at just over 2,100 euros. It is a mid-20th century work but is so beautiful in it's execution by an obviously very tallented artist. The work is unsigned and the artist is unknown. His or her talent certainly shines through. I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!

19th Century Standing Male Nude - Unknown Artist - The Beauty of Line

This standing male nude is one of the most recent drawings that I bought from Daniel, a friend of the blog ,(eBay ID kdr-lipshizt) on eBay. He made me an offer that I just could not pass up. It is a beautifully executed study of a standing male nude and a very fine example of late 19th century French Academie training. Here is the original description of the work provided in the listing: "This listing is for a superb academic drawing of a standing male nude as seen from behind. The work is executed in pencil and charcoal on laid watermarked paper and was undoubtedly made at the École des Beaux-Arts at the end of the 19th century. The sheet comes from a portfolio of similar studies by the same hand. Some of those sheets are dated around 1900. See related study of a female nude with hair pinned up in a braid. An outstanding drawing from my personal collection, and a fantastic example of the realist academic style. Here, the slender model stands with arms crossed, allowing us to observe the compressed volume of his torso as he assumes a classical contrapposto pose, balancing weight on his left leg and producing a gentle S-curve along the spine. The figure is rendered with a truthful, three-dimensional realism, while the right leg is left satisfyingly unfinished. The artist displays exceptional control of pencil and charcoal, employing delicate strokes to build form with confidence. Note the careful attention to the musculature of the back and shoulders, where precise shadows build anatomy without exaggeration. Areas of bare paper are strategically preserved to suggest light falling across the figure, while deeper tones ground the model firmly in space. The deepest blacks are reserved for hair and the curves of the model's bottom and inner left leg, suggesting relief with a velvety smoothness. By the turn of the century, when this drawing was created, the École des Beaux-Arts had been training artists in figure drawing for over two centuries. While the curriculum remained rooted in academic tradition, subtle changes were occurring as artists began to question rigid academic conventions. This study reflects both the fruits of disciplined of academic training and hints of the more naturalistic approach that would eventually transform figure drawing in the early 20th century. The selective finishing—with some areas highly developed and others merely suggested—reveals an artist confident enough to know when to stop working, allowing the drawing to breathe."

Female Nude Bronze... Circa 1920 .... "Testing The Water"

Boy oh boy, do I have some treats for you! This week has been a collectors dream (for me at least). I have made some spectacular buys this week, several beautiful 19th-Early 20th century drawings by listed artists, thanks to a fan of the Blog, Daniel on eBay..(Seller ID kdr-lipshizt on eBay USA). If you are so inclined to collect some very special works of art then give him a visit. He is very knowledgable and ever so willing to answer your inquiries and comments. I think you all know how much I love these small desk top bronzes. They bring a smile to my face every time I look at them on my computer desk and never fail to brighten my day. They are compact and fortunately they do not break the bank when adding them to my collection. You can stretch your "fun" money quite a way with them. This little bronze (emphasis on the "little") was titled by the seller "Testing The Water!" I tend to agree with that observation. She is lyrical and poetic in her action and like the majority of these small art objects, unsigned. Proving yet again, you don't have to be an expensive monumental bronze to bring joy. Enjoy.

Young Bacchus...... Nude Youth With A Cluster Of Grapes - Unsigned Metal Sculpture - Circa 1920

I spotted this small metal sculpture last month on eBay Germany and it is now in my collection.The seller listed the sculpture as "Nude Boy with Grapes." In the back of my mind I thought I recognized the sculpture as a depiction of the young bacchus. Well, that is my interpretation after searching the internet for depictions of the young guy! The original listing (Below) was listed as a "bronze" but I noticed some areas on the figure that just did not hold up to that description. There appeared to be areas on the figure that were "gold" in color and not the tarnished surface I was seeing. When the figure arrived my doubts were confirmed. My guess was the figure was made of brass. Well, I took a chance and removed the surface tarnish and it does appear to be made of brass. There is an aged paper label on the bottom of the wooden stand that lists a gallery address in Munich, Germany. It needs some repair work and a new patina applied so when I get time I will make inquiries about restoration work. Enjoy!

STANDING MUSE........FEMALE NUDE...... WATERCOLOR - ENGLISH SCHOOL - CIRCA 1880

I must apologize for the scarcity of posts lately. Between a sore shoulder that keeps me heading for the aspirin, away from the computer, and things around the homestead that keep me financially busy (don't get me started on the legal thief called "your friendly local plumber") my buying new additions to the collection have been sparce. I will try to post the three latest additions, beginning with this one. I spotted this very nice late 19th century "English School" framed watercolor of a standing female nude today and it just brightened my day. She and her beauty are now in my collection. There is no visible signature nor attribution other than the title but the artist's tallent with the brush. Enjoy.

Semi-Nude Male - Late 19th Century - Unknown Artist

I spotted this very nice academic study several days ago on one of the European eBay sites. Unfortunately the drawing is unsigned so the identity of the artist is lost to the ages! The thing that grabbed my attention and something which really stands out from the usual pose male subjects take is that very masculine pose, arms crossed, legs spread far apart, and a look that challenges the viewer. Pay close attention to the drawing technique and the displayed skill of the artist. Enjoy.

Max Nonnenbruch (1857 – 1922) - Orientalist Female Nude

The Artist Max Nonnenbruch (1857-1922)(Above) Last week I was floating around on eBay France when I came across this beautiful pastel work of a semi-nude female by the German Artist Max Nonnenbruch (25 January 1857 – 13 March 1922). The beauty of the work was just breath taking. Well, the bidding ended just now and I made the German Anonymous Bidder (I hate people who hide their identity on these European Auction sites) and certified S.O.B pay through the nose for it! I suspect it was a European Gallery owner behind the bidding contest. Anyway, I tried. That's the best one can do! Here is some biographic information on the Artist: "Max Nonnenbruch was born in Viersen as the son of the land registry inspector Alwin Nonnenbruch and his wife Karoline, née Gössling. He spent his childhood and early school years in Mönchengladbach. From 1868 the family lived in Bonn, where he attended high school. Even as a teenager he developed the desire to become a painter. From autumn 1875 he studied for two semesters at the Düsseldorf Art Academy. On May 2nd 1877 he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Wilhelm von Lindenschmit, among others, until 1879. He wrote the text for the picture cycle From the Four Seasons by Eduard Unger (1853-1894). The cycle and the texts were published in 1880 by Friedrich Bruckmann in Munich. From 1880 onwards he made several trips to Paris and Italy, including with his fellow students Arthur Langhammer, Hans Olde and Claus Meyer. He also travelled to Belgium and England. On Capri he met Gerhart Hauptmann and his brother Carl Hauptmann and in 1883 drew a caricature of the two brothers in the hotel's guest book. After completing his military service, he met Margarethe Anna Maria Freiin von Welck on Capri in 1894, whom he married on October 4, 1884 in Serkowitz and moved into a studio apartment with her at Landwehrstrasse 62 in Munich. Max Nonnenbruch became a member of the Economic Association of Fine Artists, chairman of the Munich Artists' Support Association, member of the General German Art Cooperative and the Munich Artists' Cooperative. In 1889 he was a board member of the Munich Artists' Cooperative, and from 1890 he was also deputy secretary. At the 1892 International Art Exhibition in the Munich Glass Palace, he was secretary of the exhibition committee, chairman of the prize draw committee, member of the catalogue and finance committee, and finally responsible for contact with the English participants in the annual exhibitions. In 1892 and 1893 he travelled to England for this reason. In 1893 he and his wife moved to Nymphenburger Strasse 43. For his services in organising the English section at the 1893 International Art Exhibition in the Glass Palace, he was awarded the Order of Merit of Saint Michael, 4th Class, by Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria. At the New Year's Festival in 1894 he was awarded the Order of Merit of Saint Michael, 3rd Class. In 1894 he visited England again, travelling via Paris, Bordeaux and Nice on the way back. He was also active in exhibition management in 1894 and 1895. In 1896 he wrote the article Modern Art and Robert Fowler for the magazine Die Kunst unserer Zeit. In 1899 he moved with his wife to Friedrichstrasse and in 1902 to the house he had purchased at Mandlstrasse 10 in the Schwabing district. In 1907 he was a member of the Comité Local D’Organisation of the 16th World Peace Congress in Munich. Max Nonnenbruch had two sons and a daughter with his wife Margarethe Anna Maria, née von Welck (* February 2nd 1856 in Liebau; † December 17th 1930). On November 6th 1887 their son Wilhelm Nonnenbruch was born in Munich and on November 11th 1893 their daughter Marie († 1973), also in Munich. In 1924 Marie Nonnenbruch gave a Female Head on Paper by Robert Fowler to the Heinemann Gallery on commission and received the work back a few months later. It could perhaps have been the study head from Max Nonnenbruch's article about Robert Fowler. Marie Nonnenbruch married the physicist Eduard Rüchardt (1888-1962) on April 7th 1925. Awards * 1893 Order of Merit of Saint Michael, 4th class, awarded by Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria for services in the exhibition management of the annual exhibition 1893 in the Royal Glass Palace in Munich * 1894 Order of Merit of Saint Michael, 3rd class, awarded at the New Year's Festival by Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria for services in the exhibition management of the annual exhibition 1893 in the Royal Glass Palace in Munich." Here is the work in question:

And here are just a few examples of his works: