George Minne (1866-1941): Bronze - Nude Boy with Arms Folded, Dated 1918

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(photograph of the artist...second from the left)

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Auktionscontor Frank Peege, Freiburg, DE has recently listed this small 1918 edition of George Minne's sculpture "Nude Boy With Arms Folded" in their current catalog. If you want more information on George Minne, just search him above within the blog and you will see the Jauary posting about his art.

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19th Century Academie Julien Lithographs: Cours Elementaire

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While we are on the subject of 19th century Atelier drawing courses, a seller on eBay France listed these 19th century lithographs (above and below) this morning which were obviously used as "master drawings" in the Acadamie Julien's training course illustrating the initial line drawing lay in and the finished drawing.
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19th Century Atelier Teaching Process: "Blocking In"

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This morning I ran across a nice series of 19th century academic drawings from an unknown European atelier which demonstrates beautifully the 19th century atelier teaching method of "blocking in," drawing from a master drawing, and drawing from the plaster cast. I think Juliette Aristides describes the process best in chapter one of her book... Classical Drawing Atelier:

"The heart of atelier curriculum is drawing from life and working on individual tailored independent projects. ...... The first year of study also focuses on executing master copies and cast drawings using charcoal or graphite on paper. A master copy is a replica of a noteworthy work of art by a master artist. A cast drawing, or a drawing from a replica of a classical sculpture could be considered a master copy in which students begin to learn how to translate the three dimensions seen by the eye into the two dimensions available on paper or canvas. Both of these exercises offer students a chance to work on an extended drawing without the inherent difficulties of drawing from life, such as the model moving or the pose ending before the completion of the drawing. Both exercises are solitary experiences that require an enormous investment of time and provide a glimpse into what it is like to be an artist in a studio. Students spend at least the first year of their training drawing from life and creating master copies and cast drawing before moving on to painting."

(pg. 10 - 11, chapter one, Classical Drawing Atelier, by Juliette Aristides, ISBN: 978-0-8230-0657-1)
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19th Century Anonymous Belgian School: Nude Ephebe

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This morning I finally negotiated a purchase price with a Brussels Antiques dealer for this beautiful, sensitive academic drawing of a nude ephebe. I am shameless when it comes to approaching a seller on an eBay listing, making them an offer they can't resist unless they specifically prohibit it on their listing. Unfortunately, the drawing is not signed but dates from the late 19th century and is by an unknown artist. It is more a lightly shaded line drawing as opposed to the detailed finished drawing you so often see, but still it is a powerfully rendered study of a young nude boy. If you want to see an active application of a very sensual, almost sexual line, then start at about the level of the model's right ear and let your eye flow along that beautiful line which progresses gently over the scapula, down the back of the rib cage, along the boy's spine, over the hips, and around that almost ninety degree turn of the buttocks, and then down the back side of the boy's right leg. Such a beautiful, poetic execution a single line and of the artist's drawing skills. It will make a nice addition to my collection.
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Anonymous European School: Nude Boy Seated On A Red Cloth, Circa 1900

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This nicely executed academic study of a nude boy posed on a red cloth popped up on a European site today. It is unsigned and undated but appears to date from around 1900. It has some condition problems (torn canvas, scratches, and missing paint, all of which can be repaired by a competent conservation lab) but is in restorable condition. Still, it is a nicely executed early 20th century study of the male youth.
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19th Century French Academic Print - "The Fighter"

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Several days ago I received an email from an specialty art gallery in Brussels that specializes in male nudes with an obvious bent towards a gay audience. When you buy art at public auction like I do, then expect your email address to be sold to industrious entrepreneurs hoping to sell their artworks to you, in this particular case wildly overpriced artwork with stupid and ridiculous shipping charges. When I enquired about a particular small 19th century painting of a male nude, the owner took me for a rich American fool, of which I am neither, rich nor a fool that is. I am guilty of being an American.  Most of the gay oriented illustrations in their email had absolutely no interest for me, if that stuff turns you on then knock yourself out, but there was one image of a 19th century academic drawing that I immediately recognized (first illustration below). Back in January, I added two original French academic prints to my collection, one titled "The Fighter." I am always delighted to see a drawing that illustrates the 19th century academic process of teaching drawing to students (in this particular case...drawing from a master drawing) and here is the perfect example.
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Below are illustrations of the original early 19th century French Academic print titled: The Fighter

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Georg Mattes (1874-1942): Bronze - Der Ball Spieler (The Ball Player)

Miri Kunst in Germany has recently listed this beautiful action study of the male physic by German Sculptor Georg Mattes (1874-1942) on eBay Germany. Mattes was a Professor of Sculpture at the Munich Art Academy during the early part of the 20th century. His sculptures are well known and extent to churches, municipal structures, cemeteries, and public works in Germany.
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