#artists reference

A novel angle here, though perhaps not the most flattering, or the most useful to those 19th century artists looking to purchase reference photographs, as I cannot imagine many wanted to paint a fellow from such an odd viewpoint! By Gaudenzio Marconi, circa 1870 (see other impressive examples of his work which I have posted prevously)

Thomas Eakins making an appearance in his own photograph (the clothed figure on the left), with an unknown model, and J. Laurie Wallace, 1883. Wallace can be seen in another shot on this same wooden platform.

I have posted a few of Thomas Eakins’ group photographs in recent weeks, so here is one a little different for a change, a single model posed alone (circa 1888).

Another photograph by Thomas Eakins in 1883, showing two of his art students boxing while four more spectate - they have shifted positions between this and the first shot posted.

sugarmeows:

Nude Studies (albumen, 1875–80) – Louis Jean Baptiste Igout (French, 1837–81)

Printed by Calavas Freres Editeurs; 68, Rue de Lafayette, Paris.

I’m surprised to find that none of these individual images are repeats from previous sheets, though the models are definitely men we have seen before in numerous other poses in these artists’ reference pages.

An additional sheet of artists’ reference nudes from photographer Louis Jean-Baptiste Igout and publisher A. Calavas, some we have seen before mixed with some we have not. My favourite is the extremely graceful pose, centre-right, on the third row.

A fascination 1880s/90s photograph from the studio of Belgian sculptor Jacques de Lalaing, a scene all too rarely seen, as an artist’s model poses again beside the part-finished sculpture his body provided the reference for. Note that his raised arm is tied in place, to relieve some of the strain of holding a pose for a lengthy period.

A fourth photograph of the same model, in similar position, from Belgian sculptor Jacques de Lalaing, taken in the 1880s-1890s. 

Another full page of anatomical reference nudes, posed by anoymous artists’ models, photographed in the studio of Louis Jean-Baptiste Igout, and published by A. Calavas, between 1870 and 1880.

It has been a while since I added to the 1855 set of Delacroix’s reference photographs, taken by Jean Louis Marie Eugène Durieu. These early images appear dark and hazy, due to the limits of photographic technology of the time, but all the more appealing for it.

vintagehandsomemen:

Study photo from the Thomas Eakins studio, late 1800s.

Not the finest clarity or definition of detail, but a less widely published photograph than many of Eakins’ references; one I hadn’t seen ‘til now.

An utterly beautiful reference photograph by Belgian sculptor Jacques de Lalaing, some time in the 1880s-90s : quite the most graceful and gloriously poised artists’ model I’ve laid eyes on for a long time!

A fine-figured Frenchman working as an artists’ model, photographed by Gaudenzio Marconi, c1865. We have already seen this magnificent bearded gent in a much more contemplative pose.

Thomas Eakins’ art students enjoying a tug-of-war, I wonder which was the winning side? The same group posed for a variety of sporting scenes this day in 1883, we’ve seen them boxing, and wrestling.

Photographed by Thomas Eakins circa 1883, this may or may not be from the same set as the other male nudes by the shoreline, as the boat so prominent in those shots is absent here, and the water much less still.
As something of a beachcomber myself, I cannot help but wonder what intriguing thing the man on the right (John Laurie Wallace) has found washed up by the waves!

Male model photographed by Henri Rupp in the rather cluttered art studio of Gustav Moreau, in the 1890s - more from this set can be seen here.

Finding familiar chaps in these old photographs is always a delight, here we see strapping young sportsman Bill Duckett again, in another shot from this modelling session with Thomas Eakins, some time between 1887 and 1892.

Although the darkened grainy gloom of this photograph is merely the result of the inefficiency of early cameras, it certainly makes for an artistically atmospheric effect, when looked at from an aesthetic point of view rather than evaluating the technical side! Taken by Jean Louis Marie Eugène Durieu in association with Eugène Delacroix, circa 1855.

Despite being of poor quality, this is nevertheless an interesting addition to the collection, a third shot from the waterside showing Thomas Eakins and John Laurie Wallace, in 1883. The others may be seen hereandhere.

Thomas Eakins and John Laurie Wallace pose nude by the shoreline circa 1883 - a lovely and much less often-seen shot to go with the more widely circulated rear view of the same two men,