Meil, Johann Heinrich (1730-1820), Male Nude, 1807

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.