Sheet with 29 Studies of Male Heads and Three Hands

Johann Jacob Eybelwieser

ca. 1667 Vienna – 1744 Wroclaw

Pen in black ink. Sheet size: 29.4 x 18.4 cm.

Eybelwieser is regarded as the most important student, and natural successor, of Michael Willmann (1630-1706).

Our drawing belongs to a group of seventeen known Studio model drawings with representations of heads, hands, draperies and whole figures, which had once been attributed to Michael Willmann. The majority of these drawings represent adaptations and copies of prints and drawings that were presumably kept in Willmann's studio in Lembus. (Koziel 2001, p.144) Our drawing includes a copy of the self-portrait of Anthony van Dyck etched in circa 1630 (New Holl. 1) besides a portrait of Peter Paul Rubens.

Because of its compositional singularity, the group of Eybelwieser drawings is well documented. (Cat. Berlin 1921; Kloss 1934; Exh. cat. Sacramento 1971; Manuth 1994; Lossow 1994; Koziel 1998; Koziel 2001). Examples can be found in the following collections: Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, Brunswick; Museum Narodow, Warsaw; Kupferstich Kabinett, Berlin, and Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento. In terms of form and composition our drawing compares most closely to the examples in Berlin and Sacramento. (Koziel, 2001, pp. 142-143, cat.no. 61, 62 with ills.)

It is likely that Eybelwieser took possession of the group of drawings he made during his time with Willmann for use in his own studio in Breslau (1698-1744). "The still well-preserved sheets with model drawings by Eybelwieser are one of the most important sources of information on the drawings, largely lost, that were part of Willmann's studio collection". (Koziel, 2001, p.144)

Our drawing is a beautiful example for the development of late seventeenth-century Bohemian Baroque in Eybelwieser's oeuvre.

Bought by a museum, Northern America.