Constipation Man Facial Expression Facial Study Portrait Bust Statue by Messerschmidt 5.5H

A Face Squeezed Shut: The Messerschmidt Constipation Man Bust

This Messerschmidt Constipation Man bust shows a mouth clenched so hard that the chin muscles stand out. It measures 5.5 in H x 4.25 in W x 4 in D in bonded stone.

The color is grey smoke with rosy cheeks. The base alone measures 2.25 in W x 2.25 in D.

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt had a profound talent for capturing a human expression.

Product Details

• Material: Bonded stone
• Color: Grey smoke with rosy cheeks
• Dimensions: 5.5 in H x 4.25 in W x 4 in D
• Base: 2.25 in W x 2.25 in D
• Weight: 2.8 lbs
• Collection: Parastone Mouseion 3D Collection of museum reproductions
• Product number: ME05

One of 55 Character Heads

Messerschmidt left behind 55 character heads. Seventeen are alabaster, 36 are metal, one is wood, and one is limestone.

He never named them himself and just called them heads. The names we use come from an anonymous publication about ten years after his death.

Messerschmidt's Faces

The Neue Galerie says he studied his own face in a mirror and contorted his features. This Franz Xaver Messerschmidt portrait of strain follows that method. Each Messerschmidt character head is a study in strain.

A facial expression bust like this one works like a portrait of a mood. The tightened jowls and clenched mouth tell the whole story.

The Messerschmidt Constipation Man bust is both comic and unsettling. See more in our Museum Statues Collection and Parastone Museum Replicas.

Display and Care

At 2.8 lbs, the Messerschmidt Constipation Man bust suits a desk, shelf, or cabinet. Dust it with a soft dry brush. Keep it away from damp air.

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt in Brief

Messerschmidt lived from 1736 to 1783 and was born in Wiesensteig. He learned sculpture in Munich from his uncle Johann Baptist Straub. He then studied at the Academy of the Arts in Vienna.

For More Reading from the Web

• Read about the many faces of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt and his character heads. The Many Faces of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt - Apollo Magazine
• See the Belvedere's presentation of Messerschmidt and his character heads. Franz Xaver Messerschmidt - Belvedere