Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1736

28 January - 25 April 2011. Bavarian-born Austrian sculptor and master portraitist Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1736-1783) is renowned for his "character head" busts whose faces are contorted in extreme facial expressions.

28 January - 25 April 2011. Bavarian-born Austrian sculptor and master portraitist Franz Xaver Messerschmidt (1736-1783) is renowned for his "character head" busts whose faces are contorted in extreme facial expressions. Violently expressive, disturbing, humorous and captivating are all words that have been used over the centuries to describe his work, which during his lifetime garnered him critical acclaim from the public.

Active in Vienna and Pressburg (modern-day Bratislava) in the late 18th century, Messerschmidt was engaged as a court sculptor to the Austrian imperial family as well as notable contemporary intellectuals.

Organised in collaboration with the Neue Galerie New York, Museum for German and Austrian Art, the Louvre presents a series of Messerschmidt's metal and alabaster heads, guaranteed to elicit a variety of responses from the viewer.

Wed-Mon 09.00-18.00. Wed & Fri 09.00-22.00