The Vexed Man, a captivating bust in alabaster carved by the German artist Franz Xaver Masserschmidt, embodies the artist's mastery in the capture of raw human emotions. Made at the end of the 18th century, it represents a deeply anxious and tormented expression. The meticulous attention of Messerschmidt to details is obvious in the representation of frowning eyebrows, tense muscles and tight lips, all indicating a feeling of inner disorder.