Rare 1738 Matthew Buchinger drawing heads to auction

A rare drawing by Matthew Buchinger, the remarkable 18th-century German artist born without hands or feet, is set to go under the hammer at Cheffins on 25 March.

Comprising approximately 2,500 brushstrokes, the 27.5cm drawing depicts a family tree created to mark the marriage of Mr Thomas Weekes and Mrs Elizabeth Molloy. Dated 8 January 1738 and executed when Buchinger was 64 years old, the intricate work is estimated to sell for £1,000–£1,500.

Born without hands and feet and only 29-inches tall, Buchinger travelled widely around Europe during his life, performing various acts, such as firing pistols, playing musical instruments, performing magic tricks, play dice, among other acts. His most impressive feats were his skill at micrography, in which illustrations consist of very small text.

The picture was found in a country house in Derbyshire and was thought to have been purchased by the sellers’ parents in Ireland in the 1970s. It is inscribed, 'Cork, January the 8, 1738. This was drawn and written by Matthew Buchinger, born without hands or feet in Germany, June the 3, 1674.'

Matthew Buchinger was born on June 3rd, 1674, in a town near Nuremberg. He had no arms below the elbows and no legs below his upper thighs.  The last of nine children, Matthew Buchinger would go on to have eleven children of his own and four marriages and died in Cork, Ireland in 1740. His works are now held by the National Portrait Gallery and the British Museum and the current auction record for works by Buchinger is £23,000.

Brett Tryner, Director, Cheffins who is handling the sale comments: “Buchinger’s ability to create some of the world’s most fantastic micrography is a true stroke of genius. The present picture is a detailed and complex depiction of a family tree, which was a style which Buchinger would become known for throughout his career. Having been hung on the back of a door in a house in Derbyshire for some years, the beneficiaries were unaware of Buchinger’s fascinating story, and we are hopeful that there will be many collectors in the market who will be interested in this wonderful piece.”

To view the picture in the catalogue, please click here