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, Pensif, François Sauvage

Pensif

François Sauvage

Painting - 100 x 81 x 3.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 1.4 inch

$1,922

Painting, Nude #2, Ronnie Jiang

Nude #2

Ronnie Jiang

Painting - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$712

Painting, Nude #1, Ronnie Jiang

Nude #1

Ronnie Jiang

Painting - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$712

Painting, Katya, Alan Lemin

Katya

Alan Lemin

Painting - 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$2,373

Painting, Mila, Alan Lemin

Mila

Alan Lemin

Painting - 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$2,373

Painting, Desnudo 2, O'Farrell

Desnudo 2

O'Farrell

Painting - 120 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,068

Painting, She baths, Diana Rosa

She baths

Diana Rosa

Painting - 76.2 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting - 30 x 48 x 1.5 inch

$2,699

Painting, Dreaming, Nguyen Quang Huy

Dreaming

Nguyen Quang Huy

Painting - 101.6 x 101.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 inch

$4,800

Painting, Free, Elizabeth Becker

Free

Elizabeth Becker

Painting - 35.6 x 25.4 cm Painting - 14 x 10 inch

$200

Painting, Sphinx, Alexander Litvinov

Sphinx

Alexander Litvinov

Painting - 50.5 x 35.5 x 2 cm Painting - 19.9 x 14 x 0.8 inch

$1,151

Painting, Olivia, Olena Siniuhina

Olivia

Olena Siniuhina

Painting - 60 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$214

Painting, Marika, Mugen

Marika

Mugen

Painting - 60 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,008

Painting, Liberty  XV, Peter Goodhall

Liberty XV

Peter Goodhall

Painting - 30 x 45 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,100

Painting, Nude I, Valeri Tsvetkov

Nude I

Valeri Tsvetkov

Painting - 90 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$3,084

Painting, Question, Matteo Nannini

Question

Matteo Nannini

Painting - 120 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

$5,457

Painting, Hands, Nawel Aubert

Hands

Nawel Aubert

Painting - 100 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$1,068

Painting, Emeraude, Sylvie Cappe

Emeraude

Sylvie Cappe

Painting - 92 x 73 x 1.5 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.6 inch

$1,163

Painting, Voltige, Sylvia Brotons

Voltige

Sylvia Brotons

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.4 inch

$8,304

Painting, Sofà, Ramon Moscardó

Sofà

Ramon Moscardó

Painting - 27 x 27 x 4 cm Painting - 10.6 x 10.6 x 1.6 inch

$1,008

Painting, Pose, Ramon Moscardó

Pose

Ramon Moscardó

Painting - 27 x 27 x 4 cm Painting - 10.6 x 10.6 x 1.6 inch

$1,008

Painting, Good night, Chris Marmier

Good night

Chris Marmier

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

$1,364

Painting, Retour aux sources, Niala

Retour aux sources

Niala

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

$9,491

Painting, Le champ d'Apollon, Niala

Le champ d'Apollon

Niala

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

$8,898

Painting, Benzin, Maurice Kummer

Benzin

Maurice Kummer

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,305

Painting, Run/Star, Artur Soletskyi

Run/Star

Artur Soletskyi

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

$4,745

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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.