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Johann Heinrich Meil
Male Nude / - The Drama of the Nude -

About the Item

Johann Heinrich Meil (1730 Gotha - 1820 Berlin), Male Nude, 1807. White heightened, occasionally wiped charcoal drawing on brownish paper, 51 cm x 39.5 cm, signed “J.[ohann] H.[einrich] Meil” lower right and dated “febr. [18]07”. - minimal marginal tears, slight creases, sporadically somewhat stained, mounted in passapartout - The Drama of the Nude - Here, Johann Heinrich Meyer demonstrates his skills as the head of the anatomical drawing class at the Berlin Academy. However, this is by no means a mere study of the body. Rather, the scene has a dramatic, narrative quality. The sitter looks down to the left, and his foot points in the same direction. His hands are clasped together as if in prayer. What the man sees and what moves him remains unclear, but the inner movement is evident in every part of his body, even his hair. This aligns with the view of the Academy's director at the time, Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, who believed that pathognomy, or inner movement, reveals a person's true self more than physiognomy does. About the artist Johann Heinrich is the son of Gotha court sculptor Johann Christoph Meil. He was based in Leipzig from 1747 and in Berlin from 1774, where he was admitted to the Academy in 1783 and became rector in 1786. He was the head of the anatomical drawing class. As a painter, Meil mainly devoted himself to mythological depictions. He also designed numerous medals and vignettes for the thriving book printing industry. GERMAN VERSION Johann Heinrich Meil (1730 Gotha - 1820 Berlin), Männlicher Akt, 1807. Weiß gehöhte, mitunter gewischte Kohlezeichnung auf bräunlichem Papier, 51 cm x 39,5 cm, unten rechts mit „J.[ohann] H.[einrich] Meil“ signiert und auf „febr. [18]07“ datiert. - minimale Randeinrisse, leichte Knickspuren, sporadisch etwas fleckig, im Passapartout montiert - Das Drama des Aktes - Johann Heinrich Meil demonstriert hier als Vorsteher des anatomischen Zeichenklasse der Berliner Akademie sein Können. Dabei handelt es sich aber keineswegs um eine bloße Körperstudie, vielmehr weist die Szene etwas Dramatisch-Erzählerisches auf. Der Dargestellte schaut nach links unten, wohin auch sein Fuß ausgerichtet ist. Dabei hat er die Hände vor innerer Bewegtheit wie in einer Gebetshaltung ineinandergelegt. Was genau der Mann sieht und was ihn bewegt bleibt offen, dafür wird jedoch die innere Bewegung als solche veranschaulicht, die jedem Körperteil – selbst den Haaren – ablesbar zu sein scheint. Dies entspricht der auch von dem damaligen Akademiedirektor Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki vertretenden Auffassung, nicht die Physiognomie, sondern die Pathognomie, die innerliche Bewegtheit, offenbare den Menschen. zum Künstler Johann Heinrich ist der Sohn des Gothaer Hofbildhauers Johann Christoph Meil. Ab 1747 war Meil in Leipzig und ab 1774 in Berlin ansässig, wo er 1783 in die Akademie aufgenommen wurde, der er 1786 als Rektor vorstand. Meil leitete die anatomische Zeichenklasse. Als Maler widmete er sich vor allem mythologischen Darstellungen. Zudem entwarf er zahlreiche Medaillen und Vignetten für den prosperierenden Buchdruck.
  • Creator:
    Johann Heinrich Meil (1730 - 1820, German)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20.08 in (51 cm)Width: 15.36 in (39 cm)Depth: 0.4 in (1 cm)
  • Medium:
    Paper
  • Movement & Style:
    Rococo
  • Period:
    Early 19th Century
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Berlin, DE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2438216369192

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