Baking Bread Today but had Time to Visit my Favorite Auction House in Germany

Today is bread baking day for the week but I had a few minutes during the rising process to visit my favority German Antiques Auction House. I thought I would share some of my finds with you to start out the week. Enjoy!

Anton HOFFMANN (1863-1938)(Below)

"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.