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, Goddess, Plamen Kostov

Goddess

Plamen Kostov

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

$1,025

Painting, Freedom 7, Veronica Vilsan

Freedom 7

Veronica Vilsan

Painting - 152.4 x 58.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 60 x 23 x 2 inch

$1,102

Painting, Puppeteer, Artur Soletskyi

Puppeteer

Artur Soletskyi

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

$4,769

Painting, Illusion, Nawel Aubert

Illusion

Nawel Aubert

Painting - 120 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$1,490

Painting, L'étreinte, Nawel Aubert

L'étreinte

Nawel Aubert

Painting - 130 x 89 x 2.5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 35 x 1 inch

$1,669

Painting, ANNE, Philippe Pasqua

ANNE

Philippe Pasqua

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

$9,895

Painting, Heartless, Carlos Olmo

Heartless

Carlos Olmo

Painting - 55 x 46 x 2.5 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 1 inch

$1,073

Painting, La colombe, Claude Routier

La colombe

Claude Routier

Painting - 47 x 65 x 1 cm Painting - 18.5 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,133

Painting, Emma, Pol Ledent

Emma

Pol Ledent

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

$1,073

Painting, Hope, Diana Virgo

Hope

Diana Virgo

Painting - 90 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$800

Painting, G84725207A, Wo$h

G84725207A

Wo$h

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

$1,192

Painting, Untitled, Ilia Balavadze

Untitled

Ilia Balavadze

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

$1,073

Painting, Nu, Paul Rebeyrolle

Nu

Paul Rebeyrolle

Painting - 55 x 77 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 30.3 x 0.8 inch

$20,266

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

$3,338

Painting, Honest, James Shipton

Honest

James Shipton

Painting - 81 x 61 x 1 cm Painting - 31.9 x 24 x 0.4 inch

$530

Painting, Late Night, James Shipton

Late Night

James Shipton

Painting - 81 x 61 x 1 cm Painting - 31.9 x 24 x 0.4 inch

$530

Painting, Green Day, James Shipton

Green Day

James Shipton

Painting - 55.9 x 46 x 3.8 cm Painting - 22 x 18.1 x 1.5 inch

$441

Painting, Lemons, MKate

Lemons

MKate

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,000

Painting, Creool 1, Maurice Kummer

Creool 1

Maurice Kummer

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$715

Painting, Velvet Goldmine, Su Yu

Velvet Goldmine

Su Yu

Painting - 130 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 51.2 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

$8,345

Painting, Monica & Cupid, Su Yu

Monica & Cupid

Su Yu

Painting - 130 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 51.2 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$7,391

Painting, Money Family, Su Yu

Money Family

Su Yu

Painting - 165 x 255 x 5 cm Painting - 65 x 100.4 x 2 inch

$41,724

Painting, Unroll, Rossella Mercedes

Unroll

Rossella Mercedes

Painting - 30.5 x 23 x 0.2 cm Painting - 12 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch

$262

Painting, Lady 2, Nguyen Dinh Vu

Lady 2

Nguyen Dinh Vu

Painting - 120 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 35 x 0.8 inch

$8,047

Painting, Nude 10, Nguyen Dinh Vu

Nude 10

Nguyen Dinh Vu

Painting - 120 x 150 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

$14,007

Painting, Nude 03, Nguyen Dinh Vu

Nude 03

Nguyen Dinh Vu

Painting - 120 x 150 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

$15,796

Painting, Sapho, Sandra Detourbet

Sapho

Sandra Detourbet

Painting - 97 x 146 x 3 cm Painting - 38.2 x 57.5 x 1.2 inch

$3,934

Painting, Sanity, Papayon

Sanity

Papayon

Painting - 75 x 65 x 2.5 cm Painting - 29.5 x 25.6 x 1 inch

$2,384

Painting, Puzzle, Tanya Nefedova

Puzzle

Tanya Nefedova

Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$1,800 $1,620

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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.