Bildnis Ferdinand Fellner im 28. Lebensjahr 1826

Adam Eberle rendered this portrait of Ferdinand Fellner, at age 28, using pencil on paper. Notice how Eberle's delicate, precise lines define Fellner's features, softened by the gentle shading that models his face and the folds of his cap. The composition, cropped closely around Fellner's head and shoulders, focuses our attention on his gaze, directed slightly off to the side. The formal restraint evident here aligns with the Neoclassical ideals prevalent in early 19th-century portraiture, which emphasized clarity, order, and a certain idealized representation. Yet, there's also an element of Romanticism in the subject's introspective expression and the subtle dynamism of his pose, capturing a sense of individual character within the framework of classical form. The sketch-like quality of the drawing, with its visible pencil strokes and unfinished background, further invites us to consider the process of artistic creation and the ways in which the artist's hand shapes our perception of the sitter.