About Portrait Bust – Franz Xaver Messerschmidt Strong Man (After 1770)

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (German, 1736-1783) during his earlier career received commissions from important patrons like Maria Theresa of Austria and the princess of Savoy. after deciding to live secluded in Bratislava with his brother because of deteriorating mental health conditions, Messerschmidt dedicated the last six years of his life to working on his well-known 60 untitled character heads series, which includes this Messerschmidt Strong Man portrait bust. The tension of the muscles, clenched lips and expression of the character allows the viewer to clearly image the subject of the sculpture lifting a heavy object, without the need to represent the rest of the body engaging in the action. The attention to detail in this Messerschmidt Strong Man portrait bust, recalls the naturalism in the Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and thus demonstrates the Messerschmidt’s artistic influences and skillful ability to faithfully render subjects in sculpture.

• Dimensions: 8″H x 4″W x 4.5″L inches (est.)
• Weight: 3.7 lbs (est)
• Material: Hand-painted Resin.
• Original: Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, A Strong Man, after 1770, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt. Tin-lead alloy, 17 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 9 in. (44.5 x 26.7 x 22.9 cm). Private Collection
• Part of the Parastone Mouseion 3D Collection of highly collectible museum reproductions.