Ernest Hebert, Child Prodigy and Nude Model

Antoine-Auguste-Ernest-Hebert (1817-1908) was a French Academic and Romantic painter who was recognized as a child prodigy in his home town of Grenoble around 1830.  He was mostly self-taught although he did take lessons and won the Prix de Rome scholarship to study in Italy as a young man.  His handful of male nudes are among my personal favorites, so our Friday art lesson is on Ernest Hebert.  We start with this self portrait from the late 1850's.

Like some photographers in later years, Ernest Hebert was not afraid to pose nude himself.  I find ironic that the artist of this excellent work is unknown today, but the subject isn't.

Hebert shows his mastery of depicting musculature here, particularly in the legs.

The Slave by Hebert features a beefy man leaning against some sort of pedestal.  This is the second painting I've seen by this artist featuring a nude male slave.  The other can be seen at:   http://www.vintagemusclemen.com/search/label/Ernest%20Hebert 

Today's offering for the Bum Brigade features this exquisitely 

depicted male derriere by Ernest Hebert.

This Hebert drawing features a barrel chested model, far from the ideal of the time.

 

It's unfortunate that this drawing by Hebert is stained, and I have to wonder what the middle aged model is doing.  Is that a crutch or some sort of lever he's working?

This is Slave Sleeping under the Portico of a Temple by Ernest Hebert, 1842.