Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Cringe

Fabultastic just pointed me in the direction of this article on the German artist, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt. Maybe some of you will recognize his iconic characterized busts. Messerschmidt sculpted these busts after looking at his own facial expressions in the mirror, I am sure you will recognize some from your own experience. As the story goes, in his old age Messerschmidt was suffering from the painful stomach ailment, Crohn's Disease, which caused him to be a little loopy. Or perhaps the loopiness was there to begin with. Either way, Messerschmidt found relief in pinching his side and his wild expressions were born. The results are quite fascinating.




6 comments:

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  2. What a fascinating study of a face. I have seen death masks and found them to be as intriguing, in a morbid sort of way.

    On a side note, I just found out that Christie's recently auctioned off the alliance rings of the wife of the Duc de Chartres. Can you imagine such an intimate object, with so much history connected, ending up on the auction block? Sort of like one's gowns...

    If you want to read more or see images of the alliance rings, visit my blog:

    http://leahmariebrown.blogspot.com/

    Thanks for another interesting read.

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  3. So glad you like it Darling!

    Now, I have something saved to you. Something more spice. Are you familiar with Mr. Thomas Rowlandson work?

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  4. But of course, he is only one of my favourites! That is why his artistry adorns my banner.

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  5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has just acquired a Messerschmidt piece. The curator has put together a really interesting podcast on the piece and artist.

    Click here for the Podcast

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