Athlet (Athlete)

Athlet, modeled in 1890-92, was von Stuck's first bronze sculpture, which together with Amazone, is probably his best known. The artist was only 28 years old when he created this idealized athlete, lifting up a heavy ball to head height. Stuck produced numerous sketches and anatomical studies for this work, along with a series of photographs in order to portray the effort involved in lifting up the ball with such exactitude. This sculpture appears to have held a great importance for the artist, and in the numerous photographs of the Villa von Stuck casts of Athlet can often be seen in prominent positions.