Franz Messerschmidt Character Studies (2023)

Franz Xaver Messerchmidt (1736-1783), having formerly enjoyed a degree of respect from the Viennese art world and aristocracy, spent the final 13 years of his life holed up in a room in Slovakia creating 69 lurid character heads in marble, tin and lead - as talismen meant to fend away his schizophrenic hallucinations. These then are all two day studies - one day working from reference pics and one day working without. Some remain reasonably faithful to source. Others stray far afield. I'm in awe of both his staggering genius and mythic tale of woe. His story is a tragic one, but his legacy endures.

#1: 
The Yawner
#2: 
The Ill Humored Man
#3:
The Smell that makes you sneeze
#4:
Der Spayer
#5:
A strong man
#6:
An Intentional Wag
An Intentional Wag - Time Lapse and turn around video
#8:
The Sheepshead
the sheepshead - time lapse and turn around video
#9:
The know-it-all quibbling quipster
the know-it-all quibbling quipster - time lapse and turn around video
#10:
An Arch Villain
an arch villain - time lapse and turn around video
#13:
A Difficult Secret
A Difficult Secret - Time Lapse and Turn Around Video
:14
The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man - Time Lapse and Turn Around Video
#15:
Afflicted With Constipation
Afflicted With Constipation - Time Lapse and Turn Around Video
Exxxtras:

Not studies of existing busts, but rather attempts at making a few of my own, utilizing the same visual language.

The Mongoose
The Village Nincompoop
Ratface
The Adjuticator

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