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, Danse, Gilbert Sabatier

Danse

Gilbert Sabatier

Painting - 73 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$2,373

Painting, Apollo, Reinar Foreman

Apollo

Reinar Foreman

Painting - 140 x 110 x 1 cm Painting - 55.1 x 43.3 x 0.4 inch

$8,304

Painting, Dionysos, Reinar Foreman

Dionysos

Reinar Foreman

Painting - 140 x 110 x 1 cm Painting - 55.1 x 43.3 x 0.4 inch

$8,304

Painting, Desnudas, Jordi Turbau

Desnudas

Jordi Turbau

Painting - 60 x 92 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 36.2 x 1.2 inch

$2,491

Painting, Acrobatie, FXV

Acrobatie

FXV

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 1 inch

$830

Painting, Facing the sea, Du Ke

Facing the sea

Du Ke

Painting - 80 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

$2,135

Painting, Inner Voice, Bill Bate

Inner Voice

Bill Bate

Painting - 92 x 71 x 4 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28 x 1.6 inch

$2,332

Painting, Escape, FXV

Escape

FXV

Painting - 110 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 43.3 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

$791

Painting, Dante, Xavi Figueras

Dante

Xavi Figueras

Painting - 29 x 36 cm Painting - 11.4 x 14.2 inch

$1,080

Painting, La Sieste, Carole Leprince

La Sieste

Carole Leprince

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

$1,008

Painting, Woman I, Milburn-Foster

Woman I

Milburn-Foster

Painting - 130 x 81 cm Painting - 51.2 x 31.9 inch

$9,728

Painting, Le balcon, Phil Camalot

Le balcon

Phil Camalot

Painting - 92 x 65 cm Painting - 36.2 x 25.6 inch

$949

Painting, Nude, Sirio Pellegrini

Nude

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting - 48 x 39 x 0.5 cm Painting - 18.9 x 15.4 x 0.2 inch

$3,322

Painting, Sara 2, Olena Siniuhina

Sara 2

Olena Siniuhina

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

$261

Painting, Muette 2, Olena Siniuhina

Muette 2

Olena Siniuhina

Painting - 55 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

$344

Painting, Cadiz 2, Rene Rikkelman

Cadiz 2

Rene Rikkelman

Painting - 90 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,127

Painting, Cadiz 1, Rene Rikkelman

Cadiz 1

Rene Rikkelman

Painting - 90 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,127

Painting, Adam, Matteo Nannini

Adam

Matteo Nannini

Painting - 100 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

$4,508

Painting, Caught, Butkovsky Nikolai

Caught

Butkovsky Nikolai

Painting - 70 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$1,768

Painting, Wicked girl, Verssan

Wicked girl

Verssan

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

$356

Painting, Olympia, Alice de Miramon

Olympia

Alice de Miramon

Painting - 29 x 23 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.4 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch

$890

Painting, Struggle, Milburn-Foster

Struggle

Milburn-Foster

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

$7,593

Painting, Growth, Michela Vicentini

Growth

Michela Vicentini

Painting - 60 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

$2,610

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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.