The heads Franz Xaver Messerschmidt



lithograph matthias rudolph toma depicting messerschmidt’s “character heads” (1839)


in 1781, german author friedrich nicolai visited messerschmidt @ studio in pressburg , subsequently published transcript of conversation. nicolai s account of meeting valuable resource, contemporary document details messerschmidt s reasoning behind execution of character heads. appears many years messerschmidt had been suffering undiagnosed digestive complaint, believed crohn s disease, caused him considerable discomfort. in order focus thoughts away condition, messerschmidt devised series of pinches administered right lower rib. observing resulting facial expressions in mirror, messerschmidt set recording them in marble , bronze. intention, told nicolai, represent 64 canonical grimaces of human face using himself template.


during course of discussion, messerschmidt went on explain interest in necromancy , arcane, , how inspired character heads. messerschmidt keen disciple of hermes trismegistus (nicolai noted among few possessions littered messerschmidt s workshop copy of illustration featuring trismegistus) , abided teachings regarding pursuit of universal balance : forerunner principles of golden ratio. result, messerschmidt claimed character heads had aroused anger of spirit of proportion , ancient being safe-guarded knowledge. spirit visited him @ night, , forced him endure humiliating tortures. 1 of messerschmidt s famous heads (the beaked[1]) apparently inspired 1 of these encounters.



















































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