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, Roman nude, Pol Ledent

Roman nude

Pol Ledent

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,053

Painting, La drôle de scène, Zafi

La drôle de scène

Zafi

Painting - 200 x 150 x 3 cm Painting - 78.7 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

$22,230

Painting, Lea, Pol Ledent

Lea

Pol Ledent

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,053

Painting, Ornella, Pol Ledent

Ornella

Pol Ledent

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$994

Painting, Lay Lady Lay, Pol Ledent

Lay Lady Lay

Pol Ledent

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

$1,404

Painting, My little pet, Liubou Sas

My little pet

Liubou Sas

Painting - 80 x 60 x 1.7 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.7 inch

$2,738

Painting, Duchándome, Celso Castro

Duchándome

Celso Castro

Painting - 49.5 x 34.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 19.5 x 13.75 x 0.1 inch

$600

Painting, Femme, Valerie Vescovi

Femme

Valerie Vescovi

Painting - 127 x 63.5 x 3.3 cm Painting - 50 x 25 x 1.3 inch

$1,850

Painting, Puzzle, Tatiana Harizanova

Puzzle

Tatiana Harizanova

Painting - 70 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,755

Painting, La lectrice, ShuJie Wang

La lectrice

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 70 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,638

Painting, Nu 2, Aurélie Trabaud

Nu 2

Aurélie Trabaud

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$140

Painting, Bunny, Alena Di Santo

Bunny

Alena Di Santo

Painting - 100 x 70 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

$1,000

Painting, Bacchanale, Pierre Sojo

Bacchanale

Pierre Sojo

Painting - 50 x 62 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 24.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,574

Painting, Vénus, Muriel Matt

Vénus

Muriel Matt

Painting - 130 x 97 x 5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 2 inch

$5,616

Painting, Untitled, Guy Ghazanchyan

Untitled

Guy Ghazanchyan

Painting - 140 x 200 x 2 cm Painting - 55.1 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch

$6,435

Painting, Water 02, Della Camilleri

Water 02

Della Camilleri

Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

$480

Painting, Untitled, Ilia Balavadze

Untitled

Ilia Balavadze

Painting - 60 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,053

Painting, Torso, Nadezda Stupina

Torso

Nadezda Stupina

Painting - 80 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

$819

Painting, Woman 1, Géraldine Ragon

Woman 1

Géraldine Ragon

Painting - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$462

Painting, Le modèle, Adrien Holy

Le modèle

Adrien Holy

Painting - 55.5 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 21.9 x 15 x 0.8 inch

$3,118

Painting, Phoebe, Xavi Figueras

Phoebe

Xavi Figueras

Painting - 70 x 50 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$3,042

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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.