Sunday, May 6, 2012

“Human muscles” 19th Century


This collection of human anatomy drawings was issued by German Architect (¿?) and Painter Anton Hallmann (1812 - 1845). The original manuscript is located in Nuremberg, but I couldn’t find information about Hallmann’s bio, probably because he died young, was only 33.
This collection of anatomy sketches is really inedited: most of Hallmann well known drawings are architectural paintings in oil like Fossa Nuova Monastery in Roma (1841), The King of Prussia Villa (1844) and several monuments and buildings in Munich, St. Petersburg, London and Paris. I found some of his drawings at askart.com (direct link with 2 examples, auctioned?), and also at artnet.com -see oil on canvas arabic scene, auction pending for around 7000 EUR / 9100 USD, but for me the best drawing of all collection, issued one year before he died- on direct link here. My surprise arrived when I found a Hallmann's drawing on arcadja.com -direct link here- auctioned on March this year 2012 for only... 700 EUR (900 USD).
Some of the sketches available on this manuscript are: facial and neck muscles structure, sore muscles, trunk muscles, upper/lower arm muscles, forearm muscles, pelvic, high/lower leg muscles, foot muscles, several back & oblique views, etc.
For a high resolution, pdf version of this manuscript, contact me (facsimilium AT gmail DOT com).








Wednesday, May 2, 2012

"Civil Architecture" by Eduard Mezger; 19th Century



Missing Architecture at facsimilium? At least I really was... This amazing collection of civil architecture sketches were drawn by Friedrich Eduard Mezger (1807–1894) a German Architect, Professor and civil Officer of the Royal buildings administration. Mezger studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich (direct link to the academy as it is today founded in 1948, but this Bavarian Academy of fine Arts can be considered as the revival of the "original" Royal Academy, established in 1808). During this period at the academy, Mezger took part in some monumental works in Athens, Greece; promoted by the Academy. After his return in 1833 from Greece, He became professor in civil engineering at the Technical University of Munich (link here to the TUM as it is today), and then in 1846 became "Oberbaurat", that can be literally understood as "Top Architect Officer".

Apart of his sketches, Mezger's collection of aquarelles really impressed me first time I saw it. Following my investigation, I could find that some of them were auctioned by Sotheby's in May 2004, with an average price of around 5.000 EUR (6.500 USD)... fair isn't it? More info see Arcadja web page, link here. Type "Eduard Mezger" on search by artist window (3 results). I couldn't obtain same results by a direct search on Sotheby's (¿?).

For a high resolution, pdf version of this manuscript, contact me (facsimilium AT gmail DOT com).



Amazing aquarelle, see left hand side light entry effect, mixed with colour -turquoise- intensity on top..