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, Geisha, Verssan

Geisha

Verssan

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

$1,026

Painting, D.A.R.E, James Shipton

D.A.R.E

James Shipton

Painting - 80 x 59.9 x 3.8 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 1.5 inch

$1,259

Painting, Pandora, Valerio Adami

Pandora

Valerio Adami

Painting - 97 x 130 x 2.5 cm Painting - 38.2 x 51.2 x 1 inch

$84,560

Painting, Renovation, Tanya Nefedova

Renovation

Tanya Nefedova

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

$1,750

Painting, Lady, Bikkel Artist

Lady

Bikkel Artist

Painting - 69 x 61 x 0.3 cm Painting - 27.2 x 24 x 0.1 inch

$1,691

Painting, Solitude, Yana Raynus

Solitude

Yana Raynus

Painting - 102 x 76 x 2 cm Painting - 40.2 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,200

Painting, Paradoxe, Gus Artiste

Paradoxe

Gus Artiste

Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

$2,413

Painting, Espionne, Sammy Slabbinck

Espionne

Sammy Slabbinck

Painting - 100 x 70 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

$1,860

Painting, Jump124, SIlvia Caimi

Jump124

SIlvia Caimi

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

$4,510

Painting, Inward, Juan C. Estrada

Inward

Juan C. Estrada

Painting - 76.2 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 30 x 48 x 1 inch

$2,500

Painting, Mother, Isabelle Floch

Mother

Isabelle Floch

Painting - 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$3,157

Painting, La Piel Del Jaguar, VinZ

La Piel Del Jaguar

VinZ

Painting - 29.5 x 20.5 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.6 x 8.1 x 0 inch

$789

Painting, VIKA, Maria Makarova

VIKA

Maria Makarova

Painting - 120 x 70 x 0.3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

$3,000

Painting, Nano, Karlis Vitols

Nano

Karlis Vitols

Painting - 200 x 150 x 5 cm Painting - 78.7 x 59.1 x 2 inch

$5,074

Painting, Discrétion, Daniel Gelis

Discrétion

Daniel Gelis

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

$902

Painting, Bruns, Damien Legrain

Bruns

Damien Legrain

Painting - 40 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$395

Painting, Svetlana, Olena Siniuhina

Svetlana

Olena Siniuhina

Painting - 122 x 91 x 2 cm Painting - 48 x 35.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,127

Painting, Embossed Nude, Tom Wesselmann

Embossed Nude

Tom Wesselmann

Painting - 37.1 x 45.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 14.6 x 17.75 x 0.1 inch

$59,500 $47,600

Painting, Attitude, Vally

Attitude

Vally

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

$789

Painting, Tranquility, Dela Quarshie

Tranquility

Dela Quarshie

Painting - 200 x 195 x 1 cm Painting - 78.7 x 76.8 x 0.4 inch

$14,093

Painting, Nude Woman, Edgar Stoebel

Nude Woman

Edgar Stoebel

Painting - 81 x 54 x 0.1 cm Painting - 31.9 x 21.3 x 0 inch

$902

Painting, Femme nu, Zhuo Chen

Femme nu

Zhuo Chen

Painting - 38 x 27 x 1 cm Painting - 15 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

$676

Painting, Mujer de agua, Pep Ribé

Mujer de agua

Pep Ribé

Painting - 116 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$958

Painting, Only two, Nikolay Rusev

Only two

Nikolay Rusev

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

Sold

Painting, Svetlana, Lena Abraham

Svetlana

Lena Abraham

Painting - 85 x 65 cm Painting - 33.5 x 25.6 inch

$2,480

Painting, Influences, Zan Donna

Influences

Zan Donna

Painting - 81 x 54 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 21.3 x 1 inch

$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.