Early 20th Century

Today we visit the early 20th Century again, starting with this interesting middle aged model.

 

Nude on the rocks

I sort of like the way this one was staged.

 

1920s I

This is from a group of photos I recently came across labeled only "1920s."

All the men are in the same pose, and there was no information provided.

 

Phys Ed

Marcel Mourgues from Nimes appeared in a French physical education publication.

 

Balancing

Something tells me that this balancing act was not as easy as it looks.

 

1900

This guy from 1900 had at least one thing going for him.

 

Hairy back

This one shows a male with a hairy back, something that did not 

always show up in early 20th photography due to technical issues.

1905

This headstand is by an unknown photographer from 1905.

 

Orville Stamm

This is Orville Stamm.  I love the caption bit:

"Power is in the loins that strive . . ."

 

1920s II

Ending the series with a second photo from that group of photos from the 1920s.

 

Norman Tousley Day

Bay Area firefighter Norm Tousley was much in demand as a male nude model for obvious reasons.  Today I am posting ten of his photos, starting with the first of four by Dave Martin.

 

Denny Denfield I

Denny Denfield did a memorable color photo shoot with Norm Tousley at a California beach.

 

Unknown Photographer

I couldn't find a photographer attribution for this one,

but that huge metal cogwheel might be a clue.

 

Dave Martin II

Our second Dave Martin photo of the set is a very good reclining male nude.

 

Denny Denfield II

Denny Denfield was an early and effective user of color film for physique work.

 

Russ Warner

This impressive photo is by Russ Warner.  Some of Mr. Warner's models joked 

about the strenuous hikes involved in getting to some of his favorite outdoor locations

 

Delmonteque Cover

Bob Delmonteque, a bodybuilder and model himself, took this magazine cover shot.

 

Dave Martin III

It looks like there's some writing on the bamboo staff Dave Martin used in this picture.

 

 

AMG

My usually reliable source says that this is by AMG,

but I'm not entirely convinced that it is.

 

Dave Martin IV

Closing the Norman Tousley set with a classic pose by Dave Martin.

 

Jerry's Vacation

 Jerry's Vacation

As many of you know, I spent a big chunk of September on vacation.  My destination was Norway and Sweden with quick side trips to Copenhagen and Helsinki.  This was not my usual sort of holiday as the main purpose was to connect the dots on my Y-DNA (father to grandfather to great-grandfather, ad infinitum) test results.  My background is very Scottish, but there is a surprising link to Scandinavia that isn't the typical "Vikings raid Scotland" thing.  If you want to know more about that, private message me, and I'll be happy to share.  Meanwhile, the small group I traveled with were happy to visit art museums, so I will be doing some series based on them starting today.  The pictures are my own.

National Museum of Sweden, Part 1 - Eugene Jansson

Our first stop was Stockholm, mainly because it was the least expensive city to fly into.  (No one will call it the least expensive city for any other reason.)  The Nationalmuseum Sveriga or Swedish National Museum is a must on any art lover's list.  Their diverse collection prompted me to do a three part series on my visit there.  We start with someone whose work you have seen here before, Eugene Jansson, and his self portrait at the Floating Bath House.  Click on his label below or in the right hand column for more of his work and some biographical info.

 

Athletes

Here we see Athletes from 1912.

 

Early self portrait

This early Eugene Jansson self portrait was in a stray corner of the museum.

 

National Museum of Sweden, Part 2 - The Sculpture Collection

  

The scupture collection at the National Museum in Stockholm isn't as big as many in Europe, but it makes up in quality what it might lack in quantity.  Above is Apollo Kitharoidos from 1838 by Bengt Erland Fogelberg, 1785-1854.  There are more works by Fogelberg in the collection than any other artist, including his mentor Johan Sergel whose work will also appear here today.

 

Diomedes

This is Diomedes by Swedish sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel, 1740-1814.  Although his works in the National Museum are nearly all Classical in theme, his bronzes of Swedish monarchs and notables decorate several public spaces in and around Stockholm, including a city square named for him.

 

Neptune

This is Neptune by Giovanni da Bologna, 1529-1608.

 

Odin

Fogelberg went to Norse mythology for the inspriration for Odin from 1830.

I'm showing the amazing detail of the fabric and well formed legs below.

 

Paris

Bengt Erland Fogelberg sculpted Paris in 1824-25.  Although I might prefer 

a more overtly masculine subject, I won't fault the skill of the artist.

 

Mars

This is Mars, listed by the National Museum as "possibly by Sussini."

 

Otriades

This is Otriades by Johan Tobias Sergel from 1779.  This outstanding work

got the Swedish sculptor elected to the prestigious French Academy.

 

Thor

Although his midsection is covered, this 1844 statue of Thor by Fogelberg 

presents us with a very well formed male.  I'd love to have met the model.

 

Plaster Copies

I was only a little surprised to find plaster copies of two Classical statues in a prestigious 

European museum, having previously encountered them at the Victoria and Albert in London.  

It was quite the thing to do in the mid to late 19th Century so as to bring such work to the 

masses who could not afford to travel to Rome or Paris to see the originals.  Above 

is a version of the Discobolus and below is Silenus with the infant Bacchus.

 

National Museum of Sweden, Part 3 - Midvinterblot

The main entrance hall to the National Museum in Stockholm features what is by all accounts 

the most controversial painting in the history of Sweden, Midvinterblot or Midwinter Sacrifice.  

(And no, it is not a mural, but a painting.)  Artist Carl Larsson was originally commissioned 

to create art for the side walls of the central staircase, but he lobbied until the directors added 

the huge main wall.  He commenced in 1911 and went through at least five versions before 

having the finished piece rejected.  It depicts the sacrifice of legendary King Domalde, and it 

was not finally installed into its hopefully final location until 1997.  As one museum docent 

told me,  "Only we Swedes could argue about something that long."  And believe it or not, 

the nudity of the King was not one of the reasons given for the rejection.

 

Just the Painting

The entire painting is hard to photograph, and this is the best I could do to fit it all in.

Setting the scene

Rather than showing the actual bloody sacrifice scene,

Larsson chose to paint the final preparations.

 

King Domalde

Poor Domalde had been cursed by his stepmother and everything imaginable went wrong during his reign.  It was persistent crop failures and the resultant famine that did him in.  Given how good looking Larsson painted him, I would have suggested some alternate fertility enhancing ritual.