Georg Rank (1855-1938): The Three Graces

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This morning the seller on eBay Austria who listed the works of artist Georg Rank (see my previous post) finally lowered his slightly inflated prices and I bought that beautiful Three Graces drawing that I had my eye on. I cannot help being drawn to the subject matter, especially this depiction. What a beautifully executed study. I look forward to adding this wonderful drawing to my collection.
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Caption: The Three Graces

Artist: Georg Rank (1855-1938)

Material: Watercolor and Charcoal drawing on paper

Dated: ca 1900-1910

18th Century "Grablegung Christi" carved wooden skulpture: The Entombment

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eBay Austria holds another gem this morning. I must admit, another of my favorite iconographic images is that of Christ on the Cross. I have one early 19th century carved wooden and gessoed example hanging on my walls but nothing older than the early 1800's. My example arrived with a detached arm, so I made the necessary restoration myself. A little wood glue, some of my canvas gessoe to fill the crack, and a little watercolor to match the original, and voila.... you can't tell it was ever off the figure. I have followed numerous auctions online, including eBay, and the carved and crafted wooden sculptures of the semi-nude Christ figure seem to demand some fairly expensive prices. From the looks of it, there appears to be a ready market out there for decommissioned wooden sculptures of a semi-nude Christ. Go figure. Although, if you think about it, it figures the really good ones fall into the category of "folk art." That iconographic image has given countless artists over the centuries a good reason to explore the male figure in every medium possible. I have seen a multitude of wooden carved "Christ on the Cross" depictions but this is the first time I have seen a sculpture of "The Entombment." This sculpture, to my eye, is unique in that it goes beyond the usual depiction of a figure stretched out on a cross with arms flayed and legs crossed. The mood of this fine sculpture has gone beyond the ordinary into the realm of lifelike depiction. It exudes vulnerability and compassion. The central body appears to be carved from a single piece of wood, probably fruit wood or lime wood. It is a shame the craftsman did not sign the work.

* 9-23-2011: Addendum ... I just could not pass up this opportunity. This is such an unique find. I have been buying on eBay since 1998 and I have never seen a similar object. The seller and I have agreed upon a price and I have bought this wondeful 18th century Church sculpture of the Entombment of Christ. It should be on its way to me shortly. I will have it cleaned and polished and then put it on display somewhere around here if I can find an empty space on the wall.
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Joseph Reusch (1887-1976) Nude Adolescent Female by the Sea

I wanted to post this beautiful pastel for you because it falls into that rare category of female nudes you do not see very often: The adolescent Female Nude Youth. You more commonly see young males this age but not very often young nude females. Kunst und Auktionshaus Peter Karbstein, Dusseldorf, De. has this work currently listed in their auction catalog and because I have a ton of works currently on auction for the Fall Auction Season that I wanted to list, I decided to list it separately so that it did not get lost in the crowd. Josef Reusch (1887-1976) was a well know and well listed Orientalist and graphic artist who was active in the early to mid-twentieth century.
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Jacques Jean Pasquier (1718-1785) after Charles Andre van Loo (1705-1765): Sitting Nude Male Youth Reading - St. John The Baptist - ca. 1750

I bought a second 18th century intaglio print by Jacques Jean Pasquire this morning (9/20), this one is titled Johannes der Taufer (John the Baptist), dates from 1750. It is an original etching of Pasquier's after Charles-Joseph Natoire (1700-1777). The iconography of St. John is another favorite of mine. The depiction of the young St. John usual entails depicting St. John as a young boy but ocassionally you see a depiction of John as a robust semi-nude male. The reed staff with the cross is present and portends events fortold and yet to come.
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Several days ago I noticed this 18th century intaglio print on eBay Germany. I placed a programmed bid and took it at auction a few minutes ago for not much money. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for prints and printmaking and just could not pass up owning this one. I will have to do some research on the artists Pasquier and Larue and add the information to this post when I have more time. I have previously posted biographic information on the famous 18th century printmaker van Loo.
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Caption: Sitting Nude Male Youth Reading

Artist: Jacques Jean Pasquier (1718-1785) and Louis Felix de Larue (1731-1765) after Charles Andre van Loo (1705-1765)

Material: Intaglio Print on Laid Paper, without watermark (Plate size 17.8 by 25.1 cm)

Dated: circa 1750

P. Leuschner (?), German artist - Bronze Card Holder - Nude Boy on Lilypad - H. Behrnd Foundry, Dresden - ca. 1900

This morning I was browsing auction house sites in Germany and I stumbled upon this beautiful little utilitarian bronze card holder by an unknown (to me) German artist by the name of P. Leuschner. I have been unable to find any biographic information on the artist but the one thing that struck me was the typical Symbolist design of the piece and the subject matter, a nude boy playing with a slug on a lilypad. There is some damage to the piece but it is still worthy of collecting. The subject matter of a young nude ephebe fits right into a sub-section of the Symbolist movement (mid-1850's to about 1900) called "The Cult of the Ephebe." The artistic members of this little known group specialized in depicting the nude ephebe (nude boy) as a symbol of innocence and awakening.

**** Addendum: (9/14/11) I just learned that the bid I placed on this little bronze at Von Zegen Kunstauktionen, Bonn, Germany, won the auction. It looks as if this nice little bronze work will be joining my collection sometime in the near future.
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Anonymous 19th Century German Artist: Jugendstil Watercolor - Female Nude

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This beautiful little watercolor (directly below) popped up on eBay Austria this morning and I grabbed it. It is obvious from the detail and application of color that the artist, whoever he or she might have been, was certainly classically trained in the 19th century academic tradition and knew something about the medium. Watercolor is not very forgiving and you had better know how it behaves when it hits that paper or the result will certrainly not be what we have here. You don't push it around like oil paints. I am impressed with the color application in this little watercolor also. These dreamy, laurel wreath laden nude beauties, esconced in a forest or resting by a gurgling little brook, au naturale, were typical of the German Jungendstil movement. Although artists of the German Jugendstil Movement threw in with their French counterparts in French Art Nouveau, the art of Jugendstil was stylistically original and focused on Germanic themes and mythology. The driving force of the Jugendstil movement was the magazine Munchner Jugend (1896-1914)(above illustration of cover art), which made extensive use of illustrations and designs of German Art Nouveau artists. I will scan it when it arrives and post the details.
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Caption: Female Nude, Standing in woods
Artist: Unknown German Artist, unsigned, Jugendstil in style

Material: Watercolor on paper (18cm x 13cm)

Dated: undated, ca. 1900

Josef Johan Ludwig Uphues (1850-1911) Bronze Male Nude - The Archer

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This week I located an edition of Josef Uphues' (1850-1911) bronze "The Archer." After negotiations with the seller I made the purchase. There is another title given to this bronze "Hercules and the Stymphalian Birds" (see the variation below) also. The bronze appears to be in good shape with a little bend in the bow which I will check into having restored by a conservator. I will rephotograph the bronze when it arrives and post the results for you.

Josef Uphues was an important German sculptor who has been linked to many of the avant-garde movements of his day. In 1878 he entered the Konigliche Akademische Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste in Berlin. He apprenticed as a carpenter in his early years and later apprenticed as a stonemason in Wiedenbruck. He was a student of Reinhold Begas (1831-1911), a well known German sculptor, and Fritz Schaper (1841-1919). In 1882, he became a master student of Reinhold Begas and from 1885 t0 1891 he worked as an assistant in Begas' private studio. From 1892 he started a business studio of his own and in 1899 he became professor and member of the Berlin Secession. Uphues experimented with Jugendstil, a German decorative arts movement inspired by the Art Nouveau movement in France.

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Here are additional variations of the bronze and another work by Uphues:

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