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Head of grimacing bald man from square block with incised numeral 36.

Provenance

1793, exhibited in Vienna [see note 1]. 1956, Johannes Jantzen, Bad Homburg, Germany; 1957, sold by Jantzen through Ernst E. Kofler, Lucerne, to the MFA for $2,880. (Accession Date: February 14, 1957)



NOTES:

[1] After Messerschmidt's death in 1783, a series of "character heads" were discovered in his studio. Of the 69 found, 49 were exhibited in Vienna in 1793. See "Wiener Zeitung" 89 (November 6, 1793), 5. The MFA bust is the original "Hypochondriac" (36th in the series).

Credit Line

William E. Nickerson Fund, No. 2

A Hypochondriac

Austria
Dimensions
Overall: 42.6 x 25 x 23 cm (16 3/4 x 9 13/16 x 9 1/16 in.)
Medium or Technique
Lead
Classification
Sculpture
Accession Number
57.117
On view
Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Gallery (Europe, 1700–1800) - 246

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