A Hypocrite and a Slanderer

Art Historical Context

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt's *A Hypocrite and a Slanderer* (ca. 1770–83) is a striking example of the Austrian sculptor's innovative "Character Heads," small-scale busts that capture exaggerated human expressions. Crafted from tin alloy—a rare and unconventional material for sculpture—this nearly life-size head (37 x 24.4 x 29.5 cm, weighing 11.3 kg) depicts a male figure with contorted features suggesting deceit and malice. Produced in Pressburg (now Bratislava), it reflects Messerschmidt's late-career retreat from court commissions, where he explored psychological and physiognomic themes amid personal struggles. Messerschmidt, trained in Vienna's Baroque tradition, shifted toward Enlightenment-inspired studies of emotion and character in these works. The tin alloy allowed for precise casting and a subtle patina, enhancing the lifelike yet grotesque realism that borders on caricature. This piece belongs to a series of around 60 heads, each titled to evoke vices or states of mind, blending satire with profound observation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department, it invites visitors to ponder the sculptor's insight into human nature. Its acquisition in 2010 underscores its enduring appeal, bridging 18th-century portraiture with modern psychological art.

About the Artist

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt · 1736–1783

Comment on works: sculptor