Nude Painting for Sale

The nude has long been a central genre in the history of art, from antiquity to the present day. An essential element of classical artistic training, studying live models has remained a core practice for artists throughout history. From realism to abstraction, the depiction of the human body in its natural form continues to thrive in modern art, particularly in today's image-driven culture. Let's explore the rich and fascinating history of nude art.

Nude representation in art dates back to ancient civilizations, with early examples found in Egyptian bas-reliefs. In ancient Greece, depictions of idealized, athletic bodies became iconic, particularly in sculptures and pottery showcasing gods and heroes with sculpted physiques.

Roman art drew heavily on Greek representations of the nude, and after a brief pause during the Middle Ages, due to the rise of Catholicism, the nude reemerged with vigor during the Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo and Albrecht Dürer, inspired by growing anatomical knowledge, became masters in the portrayal of the human form.

In 1568, during the Protestant Counter-Reformation, religious authorities banned the depiction of nudes in religious spaces. In response, artists used techniques such as fig leaves, hair, and drapes to retain the sensuality of their works. Despite these restrictions, influential families like the Medici continued to commission nude depictions of mythological scenes.

Over time, nude painting has reflected changing beauty standards and socio-political climates. Baroque artists like Rembrandt and Caravaggio portrayed dramatic, exaggerated bodies. The Neoclassical period, in contrast, revived the idealized forms of ancient Greece and Rome, while Romanticism embraced nudes within the context of war and revolution.

The challenge of mastering the nude has always been significant for artists, due to its complexity. In the 19th century, the portrayal of the nude was often tied to ideas of purity and virginity, drawing on classical ideals and religious influences.

The Romantic period saw a shift, with nudes embracing sensuality. However, it wasn't until the rise of Realism that the nude began to shock viewers. Manet's "Olympia" and Courbet's "L'Origine du Monde" broke conventions with their bold depictions of the human form in unconventional postures and social contexts.

The nude continues to reflect not only aesthetic ideals but also deeper societal fears and desires. The emaciated figures of Egon Schiele and the pale, introspective bodies of Lucian Freud transcend personal aesthetics, capturing the tortured psyches of their respective eras. Contemporary artists such as Gustav Klimt, Francis Bacon, Jenny Saville, Eric Fischl, and Philippe Pearlstein have continued to explore the nude genre in fresh and provocative ways.

On Artsper, explore captivating works by leading artists like Isabelle Lebret, whose intense, blue-toned nudes, Etienne Gros's dynamic compositions, and Ottelien Huckin's delicate, poetic lines push the boundaries of the nude genre. Discover the fascinating evolution of nude art today on Artsper.

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Painting, Jean Michel Basquiat, PyB

Jean Michel Basquiat

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$227

Painting, Intimité, Aimé Venel

Intimité

Aimé Venel

Painting - 114 x 146 x 3 cm Painting - 44.9 x 57.5 x 1.2 inch

$17,286

Painting, Celine Dion, PyB

Celine Dion

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$227

Painting, Salvador Dali, PyB

Salvador Dali

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$227

Painting, Seoul, Françoise Nielly

Seoul

Françoise Nielly

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$12,517

Painting, Ha-Yoon, Françoise Nielly

Ha-Yoon

Françoise Nielly

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$12,517

Painting, Yellow Love, Loran Romain

Yellow Love

Loran Romain

Painting - 75 x 53 x 1 cm Painting - 29.5 x 20.9 x 0.4 inch

$1,907

Painting, Sans TItre, Meteo Meteo

Sans TItre

Meteo Meteo

Painting - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$137

Painting, Altaïca, Ninu Art

Altaïca

Ninu Art

Painting - 100 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$3,100

Painting, Les visiteurs, Yvan Genest

Les visiteurs

Yvan Genest

Painting - 121.9 x 182.9 x 7.6 cm Painting - 48 x 72 x 3 inch

$10,700

Painting, Harlynne 1, Ninu Art

Harlynne 1

Ninu Art

Painting - 30 x 25 x 2.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 1 inch

$465

Painting, Harlynne 2, Ninu Art

Harlynne 2

Ninu Art

Painting - 30 x 25 x 2.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 1 inch

$465

Painting, Harlynne 3, Ninu Art

Harlynne 3

Ninu Art

Painting - 30 x 25 x 2.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 1 inch

$465

Painting, Sarabande, Marie Rauzy

Sarabande

Marie Rauzy

Painting - 92 x 73 x 3 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

$6,914

Painting, The Flash, Maxime Frairot

The Flash

Maxime Frairot

Painting - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$215

Painting, Alequin, Alain Beraud

Alequin

Alain Beraud

Painting - 100 x 81 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.4 inch

$14,186

Painting, Dear Iny, Ayoka Zahir

Dear Iny

Ayoka Zahir

Painting - 45 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,043

Painting, Icare, Chantal Dufour

Icare

Chantal Dufour

Painting - 114 x 146 x 2 cm Painting - 44.9 x 57.5 x 0.8 inch

$11,921

Painting, Liberté, Snath

Liberté

Snath

Painting - 116 x 81 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 31.9 x 1 inch

$3,338

Painting, Sans Titre, Meteo Meteo

Sans Titre

Meteo Meteo

Painting - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$137

Painting, Sans Titre, Meteo Meteo

Sans Titre

Meteo Meteo

Painting - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$137

Painting, La Bidule Champi, VHE

La Bidule Champi

VHE

Painting - 20 x 20 x 3 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 1.2 inch

$60

Painting, Face III, Otiniel Lins

Face III

Otiniel Lins

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$3,576

Painting, Audrey C, Franck Lobbé

Audrey C

Franck Lobbé

Painting - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$656

Painting, Memories, Cathie Berthon

Memories

Cathie Berthon

Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

$1,907

Painting, Th20_D015, Thiroff

Th20_D015

Thiroff

Painting - 64 x 43 x 0.1 cm Painting - 25.2 x 16.9 x 0 inch

$1,192

Painting, Seduçao, Brito Esteves

Seduçao

Brito Esteves

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,623

Painting, Pablo, Frédérique Samama

Pablo

Frédérique Samama

Painting - 100 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,980

Painting, Audrey V, Franck Lobbé

Audrey V

Franck Lobbé

Painting - 60 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$358

Painting, Cosmos, Franck Lobbé

Cosmos

Franck Lobbé

Painting - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$584

Painting, Kitties, Dasha Pogodina

Kitties

Dasha Pogodina

Painting - 94 x 94 x 2.5 cm Painting - 37 x 37 x 1 inch

$1,311

Painting, Cariatides, Maude Ovize

Cariatides

Maude Ovize

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

$1,788

Painting, L'esclave, Julien Cuny

L'esclave

Julien Cuny

Painting - 105 x 75 cm Painting - 41.3 x 29.5 inch

$715

Painting, Bianca, Walter Minus

Bianca

Walter Minus

Painting - 29.7 x 21 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 inch

$1,061

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Need help with Nude Painting for Sale ?
Why are people nude in paintings?

Artists often depict nude sitters in their paintings, and often for different reasons. Some artists want to portray the beauty of the human form, while some want to express ideas or emotion through the nude figure, giving it a deeper meaning. 

Why did Renaissance artists use nudity?

Artists depicted nudity frequently during the Renaissance due to the re-popularization of ancient Greek and Roman art. This re-popularization is called neoclassicism. During this period, Classical representations of the nude in sculpture were seen as the highest form of art and the ideal beauty standard. 

What was the medieval church's attitude towards nudity?

Nude statues, which were popular in Antiquity, began to be seen as representing a "pagan" past during the Medieval period in Europe that was dominated by the Catholic Church. Depictions of nude statues in medieval manuscripts represented idolatry, although certain deepictions of nudes such as the crucifixion were acceptable. In general, clothing was a sign of Christianity and modesty.