• $ (USD)

  • Need some help

  • My personalised recommendations
    • My favourite artworks
    • My favourite artists
    • My favourite galleries
    • My favourite searches
    • Recommended for you

  • Loading...

Nude Sculpture

In a similar way to animal or abstract sculpture, nude sculpture is a distinct art genre that depicts humans figures unclothed. Nonetheless, traditional nude figures were often partially clothed with cleverly placed drapery with their genitals covered. Nude art does not necessarily translate as a representation of sheer nakedness and a complete absence of clothing but it does need to have an marked interested in portraying the human body.

Although nude art was only recognised by art critics as a genre of its own in the 20th century, it is one of the oldest forms of art known to date. Made in 24,000 BCE, the Venus of Willendorf is an early example of nude sculpture. The fact that it is not a realistic representation of the female figure is irrelevant. The exaggerated chest and stomach may allude to a certain feminine beauty ideal or may be interpreted as symbols of fertility.

In Europe and the Middle East, a nude artistic tradition started to develop. Egyptian and Greco-Roman sculptures are certainly some of the most memorable works from this period of art history, many of which can be seen today at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Greek nudes first started to emerge during the 6th century BCE and focused essentially on portraying a certain ideal standard of beauty. Gods, heroes and athletes were all favourite subject choices for sculptors who sometimes depicted them on a monumental scale. Throughout art history, the nude has been used to symbolise the canons of beauty of a particular period. In contrast to the Venus of Willendorf, the figures represented in Greek marble sculptures are a much more realistic representation of the proportions of the human body. However, they still adhere to rather strict artistic codes about human representation and the notion of the ideal body. The sculptures continued to depict an ideal standard of beauty, albeit one based more closely on true human nature.

The Roman Empire soon developed a taste for nude sculpture and began a long tradition of copying Greek sculptures for mainly decorative purposes. For quite some time after, the rising influence of Christianity brought the development of nude sculpture to a standstill. It wasn’t until the Italian Renaissance that nude sculpture became a prestigious art form once again. Artists began to rediscover a form of artistic expression that allowed them to interpret beauty and glorify mankind.

Famous artists such as Bernini, Benvenuto Cellini or Michelangelo often chose mythological or biblical subjects as a pretext to study and explore human anatomy, creating as a result some of the most important masterpieces of Western art.

Their works contributed to the creation of a canon that dominated the artistic scene until the end of the 19th century when a new wave of sculptors announced the advent of modern art, a movement that was no longer interested in representing the model realistically but was more concerned about the expressive meaning of the work. The work of Auguste Rodin and of Alberto Giacometti are notable examples of the break away from realistic neo classical nude sculpture.

To get a better idea of current trends in nude sculpture, have a look at the works of contemporary artists such as Jenny Verplanke, de Jean-François Lemaire and Cade.

Collector’s Guide: Collecting Sculptures

Read more

Saved search

Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches

Unsaved search

A problem occurred

Rudy Morandini, Victoire, Sculpture

Rudy Morandini

Victoire, 2021
37 x 16.9 x 11.8 inch
Sculpture

$6,991

Pierrette Dijonneau, Envol, Sculpture

Pierrette Dijonneau

Envol, 2021
26 x 13 x 9.1 inch
Sculpture

$1,073

Muraz Martirosyan, Maternity, Sculpture

Muraz Martirosyan

Maternity, 2015
27.2 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
Sculpture

$15,187

Jean Laniau, Papillon, Sculpture

Jean Laniau

Papillon, 2021
16.9 x 20.1 x 14.2 inch
Sculpture

$15,066

Booba, Booba, Vltra, MMXXI, Sculpture

Booba

Booba, Vltra, MMXXI, 2021
17.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch
Sculpture

15,000 - $ 25,000

Raphaël Federici (ParisSketchCulture), Rendez-la nous, Sculpture

Raphaël Federici (ParisSketchCulture)

Rendez-la nous, 2019
34.6 x 35.4 x 21.7 inch
Sculpture

$6,183 $6,870

Yves Klein, Petite Vénus bleue, Sculpture

Yves Klein

Petite Vénus bleue, 2001
2.4 x 0.9 x 0 inch
Sculpture

$9,642

Val Carr-Ortolan, Illium, Sculpture

Val Carr-Ortolan

Illium, 2019
17.7 x 13.8 x 3.1 inch
Sculpture

$3,495

Miguel Berrocal, Otto/Opus 348 and Otra/Opus 349, Sculpture

Miguel Berrocal

Otto/Opus 348 and Otra/Opus 349, 1987
4.9 x 4.9 x 4.9 inch
Sculpture

$2,893

Emilio Greco, Head of Woman, Sculpture

Emilio Greco

Head of Woman, 1950
18.9 x 10.6 x 6.7 inch
Sculpture

$9,040

Our recommendations Chantal Cheuva, Nichée, Sculpture

Chantal Cheuva

Nichée, 2017
11.8 x 22.8 x 7.9 inch
Sculpture

$7,955

Dominique Dardek, Allégresse, Sculpture

Dominique Dardek

Allégresse, 2018
15.7 x 3.9 x 4.7 inch
Sculpture

$2,399

Liu Bolin, Red Hand, Sculpture

Liu Bolin

Red Hand, 2006
20.9 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch
Sculpture

$6,027

Giuseppe Mazzullo, Passo di Danza, Sculpture

Giuseppe Mazzullo

Passo di Danza, 1946
4.7 x 1.6 x 1.3 inch
Sculpture

$2,170

Mirogi, Zen, Sculpture

Mirogi

Zen, 2021
15.7 x 9.4 x 13.4 inch
Sculpture

$11,933

Aurelio Mistruzzi, Satyr with Young Faun on his Shoulders, Sculpture

Aurelio Mistruzzi

Satyr with Young Faun on his Shoulders, 1930
12.2 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
Sculpture

$4,821

Fabienne Claesen, Greta, Sculpture

Fabienne Claesen

Greta, 2017
33.3 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$3,013

Stefan Nikolaev, Glory Glow, le faux berger, Sculpture

Stefan Nikolaev

Glory Glow, le faux berger, 2015
10.2 x 5.5 x 5.5 inch
Sculpture

$1,205

Orfeo Tamburi, Hospitality, Sculpture

Orfeo Tamburi

Hospitality, 1980
11.4 x 3.1 x 2.4 inch
Sculpture

$3,857

Pericle Fazzini, Dante Meets Virgil, Sculpture

Pericle Fazzini

Dante Meets Virgil, 1970
13 x 9.8 x 1 inch
Sculpture

$10,848

Elyane Gauthier, Amazone, Sculpture

Elyane Gauthier

Amazone, 2018
27.2 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
Sculpture

$1,639 $1,928

Robert de Sutter, Buste 17, Sculpture

Robert de Sutter

Buste 17, 2018
15.4 x 4.7 x 3.1 inch
Sculpture

$4,158

Giuseppe Migneco, Man on the Rock, Sculpture

Giuseppe Migneco

Man on the Rock, 1970
8.7 x 11.8 x 9.1 inch
Sculpture

$5,544

Hyttenhove, Myron-ton, Myron-tienne / One-armed discobolus, Sculpture

Hyttenhove

Myron-ton, Myron-tienne / One-armed discobolus, 2017
8.7 x 5.9 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$1,916

Marina, Pin-up noir et or, Sculpture

Marina

Pin-up noir et or, 2018
37.4 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch
Sculpture

$9,642

YJonathan DARMON, Passion, Sculpture

YJonathan DARMON

Passion, 2000
11.8 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
Sculpture

$1,199

Tasic, Noeud, Sculpture

Tasic

Noeud, 2004
32.3 x 15.7 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$6,027

Ulrike Bolenz, Cocoon III, Sculpture

Ulrike Bolenz

Cocoon III, 2020
51.2 x 23.6 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$7,714

Mustafa Ali, Falling from above 6/7, Sculpture

Mustafa Ali

Falling from above 6/7, 2007
29.1 x 10.6 x 11.8 inch
Sculpture

$11,000

Le Maghien, Maghiër en maghiërin met koffer (groen), Sculpture

Le Maghien

Maghiër en maghiërin met koffer (groen), 2014
26.4 x 19.7 x 23.6 inch
Sculpture

$18,080

Alain Quercia, Femme au masque d'aigle blanc, Sculpture

Alain Quercia

Femme au masque d'aigle blanc, 2017
15.7 x 3.9 x 3.5 inch
Sculpture

$4,339

Rodan Kane Hart, Le Petit Penseur, Sculpture

Rodan Kane Hart

Le Petit Penseur, 2021
39.4 x 17.7 x 19.7 inch
Sculpture

$10,848

Lydie Arickx, Dans tes bras, Sculpture

Lydie Arickx

Dans tes bras, 2011
11.8 x 5.7 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$28,927

Pierre Williams, Two pugilists waiting for the swifts, Sculpture

Pierre Williams

Two pugilists waiting for the swifts, 2019
18.5 x 4.7 x 7.9 inch
Sculpture

$840

Stéphane Dugied, Sans titre - série corps de femme, Sculpture

Stéphane Dugied

Sans titre - série corps de femme, 2018
27.6 x 20.5 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$694

Sylvie Bourely, La délicate, Sculpture

Sylvie Bourely

La délicate, 2020
26 x 11 x 11 inch
Sculpture

$3,375

Our recommendations Mel Ramos, Candy II (Snickers), Sculpture

Mel Ramos

Candy II (Snickers), 2014
30 x 22 x 3 inch
Sculpture

$50,000

Brno Del Zou, Colonne Marion, Sculpture

Brno Del Zou

Colonne Marion, 2019
47.2 x 15.7 x 15.7 inch
Sculpture

$2,652

Dominique Regnier, Amalia de Golzinne, Sculpture

Dominique Regnier

Amalia de Golzinne, 2020
15 x 9.1 x 5.9 inch
Sculpture

$3,556

Idan Zareski, Lady Foot xs, Sculpture

Idan Zareski

Lady Foot xs, 2020
11.8 x 4.3 x 6.7 inch
Sculpture

$2,290

Silvia Calmejane, Danseuse, Sculpture

Silvia Calmejane

Danseuse, 2019
23.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
Sculpture

$2,145

Manny Woodard, The Wrestlers, Sculpture

Manny Woodard

The Wrestlers, 2020
19.3 x 24.4 x 11.8 inch
Sculpture

$2,117

Wenling Chen, Red Memory-Cold, Sculpture

Wenling Chen

Red Memory-Cold, 2000
15 x 3.3 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$3,000

Rose Hartman, Classic Lady III, Sculpture

Rose Hartman

Classic Lady III, 2017
12 x 4 x 4 inch
Sculpture

$2,450

François Loup, Petits seins sur socle 3, Sculpture

François Loup

Petits seins sur socle 3, 2018
15 x 11.8 x 4.7 inch
Sculpture

$603

Mariette Forges, femme assise, Sculpture

Mariette Forges

femme assise, 2021
6.3 x 7.5 x 6.3 inch
Sculpture

$3,616

Florence Sartori, Isirissime, Sculpture

Florence Sartori

Isirissime, 2015
39.4 x 16.9 x 10.6 inch
Sculpture

$3,616

Caroline Chopin, Smoky 2, Sculpture

Caroline Chopin

Smoky 2, 2020
7.1 x 2.8 x 1.2 inch
Sculpture

$386

Delphine Lepoutre, Angirika - 1/1, Sculpture

Delphine Lepoutre

Angirika - 1/1, 2019
31.9 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
Sculpture

$1,205

Philippe Aïni, Le Manteau de Couleur, Sculpture

Philippe Aïni

Le Manteau de Couleur, 2002
14.6 x 6.1 x 2.8 inch
Sculpture

$1,500

Oriol Texidor, Immersio 268, Sculpture

Oriol Texidor

Immersio 268, 2019
16.5 x 11.8 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$1,808

Keivan Beiranvand, Porter Man n°1048, Sculpture

Keivan Beiranvand

Porter Man n°1048, 2018
11.8 x 8.3 x 5.5 inch
Sculpture

$1,989

Jacques Coquillay, Sans titre, Sculpture

Jacques Coquillay

Sans titre, 1990
29.9 x 8.9 x 6.1 inch
Sculpture

$9,401

Volodymyr Odrekhivskyy, Inspiration, Sculpture

Volodymyr Odrekhivskyy

Inspiration, 2006
16.9 x 2.8 x 2.4 inch
Sculpture

$3,013

Evelyne Vella, Avenir, Sculpture

Evelyne Vella

Avenir, 2020
5.9 x 9.8 x 7.1 inch
Sculpture

$1,205

Rebecca de Cachard, Désir, Sculpture

Rebecca de Cachard

Désir, 2019
22 x 30.3 x 15.7 inch
Sculpture

$5,062

Nicole Besnainou, Envol 11, Sculpture

Nicole Besnainou

Envol 11, 2020
10.6 x 4.7 x 3.1 inch
Sculpture

$3,604

Jak Espi, Pinky Love, Sculpture

Jak Espi

Pinky Love, 1966
13.4 x 8.7 x 7.9 inch
Sculpture

$3,616

Evfrosina Fros, i-Ya (metal), Sculpture

Evfrosina Fros

i-Ya (metal), 2021
15 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
Sculpture

$10,000

Ibrahim Ouattara, Elégance 1, Sculpture

Ibrahim Ouattara

Elégance 1, 2019
25.6 x 11.4 x 5.5 inch
Sculpture

$663

Zion, Amiche, Sculpture

Zion

Amiche, 2018
9.1 x 18.9 x 6.3 inch
Sculpture

$844

Agnès Bouche, L'infini, Sculpture

Agnès Bouche

L'infini, 2016
2.4 x 16.1 x 9.8 inch
Sculpture

$1,446

Manolo Belzunce, Mujer, Sculpture

Manolo Belzunce

Mujer, 2003
16.1 x 10.6 x 1.6 inch
Sculpture

$3,013

Borislav Bonev, Erato "Muse", Sculpture

Borislav Bonev

Erato "Muse", 2020
6.7 x 5.1 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$940

60 Artworks on 2189

Scroll on the top of the page

Not feeling very inspired? Get your personalised selection today