Bratislava has been home to many renowned artists throughout history. In our blog, we aim to share their stories and highlight the places in Bratislava associated with them. Today, we begin with Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, a talented sculptor of Bavarian origin, famed for his violently expressive and slightly bizarre “Character Heads.” What’s the story behind them and what made Messerschmidt so unique?
Franz Xaver Messerschmidt came from an artistic family, the Straubs, who were South German woodcarvers. He studied and later worked at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. As a court sculptor, he created portraits and sculptures of members of the imperial family and notable intellectuals of his time. However, in 1777, his career was cut short when he was prematurely pensioned off due to his “peculiar state of health,” prompting him to move to Bratislava (then Pressburg), where his younger brother Johann Adam worked as a city sculptor.
During his time in Bratislava, Messerschmidt lived a relatively quiet life. But after his death, a remarkable discovery was made: numerous busts, crafted from various materials, were found in his house in the Zuckermandel suburb. These busts captured extreme expressions and facial grimaces. Without names or descriptions, it’s unclear what the artist intended to convey. Some believe that he “sought to depict the torments of the soul in all their extreme emotional variety,” but the true meaning remains a mystery.
This seemingly unfinished series of works became known as the “Character Heads” after Messerschmidt’s brother sold forty-nine of them to Vienna and they were publicly exhibited for the first time in 1793. To accompany the exhibition, a leaflet was created, offering a brief biography of the artist. The previously unmarked works were presented to the audience with added numbering and titles – names and numbers that have remained with them to this day.
In the first half of the 19th century, the works were exhibited in various, often unusual locations, and the first copies were made. Notably, high-quality castings were commissioned by Prince Lichtenstein for his residence in Valtice from the Stegers workshop before 1816. The original Character Heads were later sold individually at an auction in 1889.
Today, the largest collection of these works is held by the Belvedere Museum in Vienna. However, individual pieces can also be found in prestigious institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and so on.
In Bratislava, several casts of these heads are exhibited in the Slovak National Gallery, and the Gallery of the City of Bratislava holds a similarly mysterious “Capuchin” bust that may belong to the series. Or, if you would like to see them, for a more immersive experience we have another tip for you: visit the enchanting Messerschmidt Cafe, dedicated to his memory, where you can admire these unique works of art while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate or delicious desserts!
- Slovak National Gallery, Razusovo nabrezie 2 (closed on Mondays)
- Gallery of the City of Bratislava – Mirbach’s Palace, Frantiskanske namestie 11 (closed on Mondays)
- Messerschmidt Cafe – Namestie SNP 8
To discover more stunning masterpieces from Bratislava’s past, join us on our Bratislava with a Touch of Art Tour!