Character Heads

Messerschmidt, "The Intentional Wag"

Although his work shows up now and then, the sculptor Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1786-1783) isn't a very well-known name here in the United States, which is too bad. Although his life was vexed, his art will last a long while. He produced a series of character heads during the last years of his life that demonstrate his mastery of expression. Mr. Messerschmidt was a classically trained sculptor born in Bavaria whose initial success was blunted when he suddenly left Vienna despite his reputation as a master. He devoted the final years of his career to sculpting nearly 70 heads showing extreme expressions. These weren't exhibited in his lifetime and were only popularized after his death by a friend who wrote an account of his numerous visits. The friend related beliefs and behaviors that have marked Mr. Messerschmidt as someone with obsessions, superstitions, and other quirks, which purport to explain the busts. According to the account, he was trying to capture what he believed to be humankind's 64 basic grimaces. Regardless of the artist's mental state, the expressions he left carved in stone are humorous, inspiring, and somehow upsetting. They also serve as excellent examples for study.

The Vomiter

Some of the character heads seem quite similar to one another--other heads resemble The Intentional Wag in several ways, for example. But there are also heads that are quite singular and feature wide open mouths, a rarity in sculpture, even today. One in particular is titled The Vomiter, and indeed is quite graphic. 

Hoff, "A Hypochondriac," (after Messerschmidt)

Here's a digital study of one of Mr. Messerschmidt's characters--"A Hypochondriac" which dates from after 1770. This is in Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Mr. Messerschmidt didn't give these characters names but after he died, they were exhibited at a Vienna hospital and seem to have received their titles that way. Regardless of title, the expressions are real, human, and varied. These characters aren't portraits (though some resemble the sculptor) but might best be termed tronies, in the Dutch master tradition.

Hoff, "Rescued after Drowning," (after Messerschmidt)

And here is a looser sketch, based on another of Mr. Messerschmidt's character heads. The title given the sculpture is "Just Rescued from Drowning." In this case I chose an ochre background, which echoes the alabaster of the original. Like the image above, this is digital, done on a Wacom tablet using Sketchbook.

Photos of these sculptures are available, often with three or four different angles included, in a catalog from an exhibit a few years ago. The book is in a relatively large format but is now out of print and expensive. Still, using these remarkable sculptures as models for drawing has been profitable for me.