Character Head

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt Character Head

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1736 –  1783) was a successful sculptor whose work was sought by the royal Viennese court.  In 1774 he lost his position at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna due to “confusion in the head”.  Modern scholars suggest Messerschmidt suffered from mental illness and Crohn’s diseases.  He dedicated his last years to creating over 60 Character Heads (many of them self portraits) expressing severe emotions and facial contortions.

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