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, Looking, David Paul Kay

Looking

David Paul Kay

Painting - 25 x 20 x 3 cm Painting - 9.8 x 7.9 x 1.2 inch

$2,847

Painting, Hershey Pa, Dan Witz

Hershey Pa

Dan Witz

Painting - 122 x 152.4 x 4 cm Painting - 48 x 60 x 1.6 inch

$28,472

Painting, La sportive, Sylvie Eudes

La sportive

Sylvie Eudes

Painting - 25 x 25 x 4 cm Painting - 9.8 x 9.8 x 1.6 inch

$949

Painting, Mona Lisa, Romain Dorez

Mona Lisa

Romain Dorez

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

$949

Painting, Jane, Isabelle Hirtzig

Jane

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$255

Painting, About me, David Martinez

About me

David Martinez

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

$1,661

Painting, Canicule, Michaël Brack

Canicule

Michaël Brack

Painting - 54 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 21.3 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

$2,017

Painting, Trois visages, Hom Nguyen

Trois visages

Hom Nguyen

Painting - 180 x 180 x 4 cm Painting - 70.9 x 70.9 x 1.6 inch

$53,385

Painting, Kira, Sophie Devignot

Kira

Sophie Devignot

Painting - 61 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,447

Painting, Woman, Iglesias15680

Woman

Iglesias15680

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

$1,542

Painting, My stuff, Graça Tirelli

My stuff

Graça Tirelli

Painting - 61 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 24 x 0.8 inch

$1,780

Painting, Red Wulf, Cédric Lopez

Red Wulf

Cédric Lopez

Painting - 54 x 64 x 3 cm Painting - 21.3 x 25.2 x 1.2 inch

$949

Painting, Août, Carole Leprince

Août

Carole Leprince

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

$712

Painting, On est là, Eva Lamaignere

On est là

Eva Lamaignere

Painting - 92 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 36.2 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

$1,898

Painting, Waiting, Eva Dimitrova

Waiting

Eva Dimitrova

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

$1,008

Painting, Pourim, Yoël Benharrouche

Pourim

Yoël Benharrouche

Painting - 55 x 65 x 1 cm Painting - 21.7 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

$2,373

Painting, Féré, Mohamed Dembele

Féré

Mohamed Dembele

Painting - 130 x 140 x 3 cm Painting - 51.2 x 55.1 x 1.2 inch

$5,694

Painting, Sleepy, Kamsar Ohanyan

Sleepy

Kamsar Ohanyan

Painting - 52 x 52 x 3 cm Painting - 20.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 inch

$949

Painting, Back to black, Youthone

Back to black

Youthone

Painting - 113 x 70 x 0.1 cm Painting - 44.5 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$842

Painting, Portrait I, Jinxian Yang

Portrait I

Jinxian Yang

Painting - 60 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,780

Painting, Peace, Marie-Ange Daudé

Peace

Marie-Ange Daudé

Painting - 87 x 87 x 2 cm Painting - 34.3 x 34.3 x 0.8 inch

$2,373

Painting, Maya, Josue M Pierre

Maya

Josue M Pierre

Painting - 95 x 71.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 37.4 x 28.3 x 1 inch

$2,200

Painting, Untitled, Ilia Balavadze

Untitled

Ilia Balavadze

Painting - 25 x 35 x 1 cm Painting - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

$712

Painting, Marianne, Sylvie Cappe

Marianne

Sylvie Cappe

Painting - 130 x 96 x 2.5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 37.8 x 1 inch

$1,898

Painting, Fée, Zwy Milshtein

Fée

Zwy Milshtein

Painting - 39 x 22 cm Painting - 15.4 x 8.7 inch

$2,135

Painting, Lili, AE2

Lili

AE2

Painting - 116 x 89 x 5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 2 inch

$1,637

Painting, Sara, Xavi Figueras

Sara

Xavi Figueras

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$949

Painting, Elégante, Yves Brayer

Elégante

Yves Brayer

Painting - 24 x 20.5 cm Painting - 9.4 x 8.1 inch

$890

Painting, 003, Cocoquelicots

003

Cocoquelicots

Painting - 30.5 x 20.3 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 8 x 0.1 inch

$1,424

Painting, Nina Hagen, 2Kyff

Nina Hagen

2Kyff

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,056

Painting, Code 2302, Thierry Carrier

Code 2302

Thierry Carrier

Painting - 200 x 160 x 3 cm Painting - 78.7 x 63 x 1.2 inch

$14,236

Painting, Lueur d’espoir, Eznop

Lueur d’espoir

Eznop

Painting - 95 x 95 x 0.3 cm Painting - 37.4 x 37.4 x 0.1 inch

$2,135

Painting, Hervé, Noah Borger

Hervé

Noah Borger

Painting - 40 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$475

Painting, Tayssy, Sébastien Allart

Tayssy

Sébastien Allart

Painting - 81 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 31.9 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

$2,254

Painting, Auvergnat, Jean Tourlonias

Auvergnat

Jean Tourlonias

Painting - 55 x 43 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 16.9 x 0.8 inch

$2,491

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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.