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Nude Paintings For Sale
19th Century French Symbolist Oil Painting Sketch of Artists Nude Model Posing
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Artists Model French School, late 19th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 20 x 17.5 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: very good and sound condition
Category

Late 19th Century Symbolist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Lady with Books 2 original painting by Paula Craioveanu 39x23in FRAMED
Located in Forest Hills, NY
Lady with Books 1 Original painting. size 39x23in / 100x60cm . Shipped stretched, as it is, ready for hanging. Framed ! Artist Statement "I started by painting interiors, being in...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Summerdream - Contemporary Oil Painting of a Nude Woman Sitting in her Back Yard
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
We got to know Erik van Elven years ago through Facebook, we were Facebook-friends way before we even wanted to open up a gallery. We shared a passion: modern realism. That sparked a...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Memories from Past Life - original large oil painting Paula Craioveanu 59x39in
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Memories from Past Life" - original large art by Paula Craioveanu Original, large, unique painting, oil on canvas, 59x39in / 150x100cm. Shipped rolled in a tube. "Memories from Pas...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Painting, Changing Bear Maiden, Nude Woman Laying w/ Wolf, Taos Artist
Located in Beachwood, OH
Cynthia Bissell (American, 1924-2000) Changing Bear Maiden, 1962 Oil on canvas Signed and dated lower right 20 x 50 inches 26 x 56 inches, framed Cynthia Bissell was an American art...
Category

1960s Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

On the red. 1992. Oil on canvas, 80x100 cm
Located in Riga, LV
On the red. 1992. Oil on canvas, 80x100 cm Woman on the red with fruits In 1965 graduated from J. Rozentals Art High School, in 1971 graduated from the Painting Department of the Art Academy of Latvia (diploma thesis supervisor Indulis Zariņš). He has participated in exhibitions since 1970, organized about 20 solo exhibitions, and was a teacher. J. Rozentals Art High School, worked in various painting genres, created monumental wall paintings...
Category

1990s Fauvist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

J J A Lecomte du Nouÿ (1842-1923) A shoulder and back study, oil painting
Located in Paris, FR
Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ (1842-1923) A shoulder and back study, oil study oil on canvas 34 x 19.5 cm In good condition, a few small inpaintings visible under UV lights Stamp of the Estate sale in Toulouse on the stretcher In a modern frame : 40 x 25 cm Provenance : Estate of the artist and family of the artist by descent Estate sale in Toulouse 22 June 1999 This very interesting oil study was part of a set kept by the artist. He had studied fragments of anatomy both to use them as models in large compositions but probably also because he represented so many fragments. It is clear that this fragment of anatomy has a power of suggestion and serves as a relay to the imagination of the viewer, who is led to imagine the rest of the body taken as a model. We can speak of metonymy in painting and it is clear that the artist had this in mind when he kept such studies with him. Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ was born on 10 June 1842 in Paris. Originally of a Piedmontese origin, his family had been settled in France since the fourteenth century and by the time of his birth had reached the status of nobility He was an Orientalist French painter and sculptor. He was strongly influenced by the works and teachings of Charles Gleyre and Jean-Léon Gérôme. Lecomte du Nouÿ found inspiration for his art through extensive travels to Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Romania and Italy. The thematic content of Lecomte du Nouÿ's work was mainly figural, but also spanned over a vast range of imagery throughout his career, including classical, historical and religious. Lecomte du Nouÿ is known for remaining faithful to his detailed, realistic style throughout the extent of his career, despite the onset of the Impressionist, Fauvist and Constructivist artistic movements during his lifetime. His work is said to have contributed significantly to the establishment of an iconic repertoire representing the Orient in the nineteenth century.A Parisian street was named after him in 1932.  Lecomte du Nouÿ showed a strong attachment to visual art from a young age and was reported to have painted portraits of his father and uncle by the age of 6. In 1861, at 19 years of age, the artistic talents of young Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ prompted him to become a pupil at the atelier of Swiss artist, Charles Gleyre. Under Gleyre's guidance Jean-Jules-Antoine learned the significance of individualistic style and gained the foundations of creative visual presentation. Later, Lecomte du Nouy further perfected his knowledge of the artistic form under the mentorship of Jean-Léon Gérôme, who was a renowned painter of the Academicism movement. It was at this time that Jean-Jules-Antoine learned the precision required to depict "la belle nature" —a style of illustration that aims to create the most beautiful representations of the natural form. This later became one of the main techniques employed in Lecomte du Nouÿ's signature artwork. In 1865, Du Nouÿ accompanied fellow artist, Félix Auguste Clément...
Category

1890s Romantic Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Reclining Nude
Located in London, GB
'Reclining Nude', oil on canvas, by Guillaume Dulac (circa 1920s). A sensuous portrayal by the artist of a young woman reclining on a divan draped with cloth. Inspired perhaps from Ingres' (1780-1867) classic, La Grande Odalisque...
Category

1920s Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Impressionist Reclining Nude Woman Portrait Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American interior nude portrait oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed on verso.
Category

1910s Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

William Crosbie, Reclining nude, Scottish Modernist oil
Located in Harkstead, GB
A very stylish image of a reclining nude in an elegant interior. Beautiful palette. William Crosbie (1915-1999) Reclining nude Signed and dated "XCI" (91) Oil on board 8½ x 20 inche...
Category

20th Century Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Contemporary Oil Painting with Figures and Animals "kairos" 2024
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
This painting is a large format oil on canvas, depicting a composition that combines anthropomorphic figures and animal elements, integrated into a dark setting with geometric fragme...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

Large American School Modernist Nude Woman Fauvist Modern Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Up for sale here is a great modernist portrait painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1920. Painted in a wonderful modernist style. Framed. Image size 28 x 44.
Category

1910s Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Stunning Mid-Century Modern Ink Drawing of a Seated Female Nude by Rudolph Pen
Located in Chicago, IL
A Stunning Mid-Century Modern Ink Drawing of a Seated Female Nude by Noted Chicago Artist, Rudolph T. Pen. Completed in the 1960s, this compelling studio ink drawing is executed in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Stuart Denyer NEAC - large English original STUDIO NUDE Oil Painting R.A. LONDON
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: Stuart Denyer NEAC (1953-) British TITLE: "The Studio At The Royal Academy London" SIGNED: lower right and dated 1981 MEASURES: 120cm x 89cm inclusive of frame CONDITION...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

A sitter... Realistic figurative oil painting, Nude, Emerging Polish art
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary figurative nude oil on cardboard painting by Polish artist Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska. Painting depicts a woman sitting on a floor. Scene takes place in an interior, pre...
Category

2010s Naturalistic Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Chelsea Model. Contemporary Nude Oil Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
This is a classic and rather lovely life painting. Full of shade, tone and light Ibbitson creates beautiful studies of the human form. Oil on canvas Excellent condition. Signed
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Nude Moroccan beauty, Orientalist oil painting on canvas after Adam Styka
By Adam Styka
Located in Gavere, BE
Nude Moroccan beauty, Orientalist oil painting on canvas after Adam Styka Beautiful orientalist painting signed A S ( we sell it as follower or after Adam Styka ) in a nice frame. ...
Category

1920s Other Art Style Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Release" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Calvin Lai's (US based) "Release" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a nude female figure, on her knees, arching her back as if turning into the colorful blue and red...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Morning frequencies
Located in Burlingame, CA
Born in Venezuela and based in San Francisco since 2019, Alexis' paintings showcase an exploration of his innermost self through abstraction. Each canvas or work on paper is a rhythm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic

French Vintage portrait of nude by Antoine Calbet - pastel signed
Located in PARIS, FR
Mint condition, vivid colors. Free US CONTINENTAL shipping, incl Europe and Asia. Antoine Calbet: A Master of Academic Realism in the Third Republic A Distinguished Journey Antoine...
Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Gouache

1700's French Old Master Oil Painting The Penitent Magdalene in the Wilderness
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Penitent Magdalene French School, 18th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas : 33 x 21.5 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: very good and sound condition, ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Reclining Nude, Oil Painting by Julian Ritter
By Julian Ritter
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Julian Ritter, Polish-German/American (1909 - 2000) Title: Reclining Nude Year: circa 1955 Medium: Oil on Masonite Size: 14 x 18 in. (35.56 x 45.72 cm) Frame Size: 17.5 x...
Category

1950s American Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Mid Century Figure Study, Standing Woman with Plants
Located in Soquel, CA
A beautiful mid century nude figure study of a red haired woman standing with plants by California artist Genevieve Rogers (American, 1904-1984). Unsigned, but acquired with a collec...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Laid Paper

The Four Seasons: Summer
Located in Atlanta, GA
Originally painted for Louis XV's mistress Madame de Pompadour, this sensuous work of voluptuous bathing nudes is a copy of Boucher's "The Four Seasons...
Category

19th Century Rococo Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Les Baigneuses by Paulémile Pissarro - Nude scene, riverscene painting
Located in London, GB
Les Baigneuses by Paulémile Pissarro (1884-1972) Oil on canvas 89 x 118 cm (35 x 46 ¹/₂ inches) Signed and dated lower right, Paulémile - Pissarro. 1928. This work is accompanied by...
Category

1920s Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Somewhere in Paris" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Suchitra Bhosle's "Somewhere in Paris" is an original, hand made oil painting that depicts a feminine model in a translucent white shift reclining on a background of white. About th...
Category

2010s Post-Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Les Dormeuses" by Grégoire Mathias – A Diachronic Cubist Study of Rest
Located in PÉRIGUEUX, FR
Les Dormeuses (The Sleepers) Acrylic on Canvas 46 x 61 cm Les Dormeuses by Grégoire Mathias captures the serene stillness of rest through the fragmented yet harmonious lens of Diach...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Baby's Breath and Roses" (2023) By John Tarantola, Nude Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
John Tarantola's original nude portrait "Baby's Breath and Roses" (2023) is a surrealist oil on panel painting that depicts an athletic nude male figure, with a silhouette of another...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

The painter and the Model oil on canvas painting fauvism nude
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Jordi Curós Ventura (1930-2007) - the painter and the Model - Oil on canvas. Work measurements 61x46 cm. Frameless. Jordi Curós Ventura (Olot, Girona, March 4, 1930) is a Spanish pa...
Category

1970s Fauvist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Bather
By Roland Wheelwright
Located in St. Albans, GB
ROWLAND WHEELWRIGHT A beautiful painting by Roland Wheelwright in keeping with his traditional subject matter. This piece is a large and important example of his work and is not oft...
Category

1920s Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vintage Surreal Signed Nude Figures Framed Original Modernist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist abstract nude landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed illegibly.
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

MAN AND THE MACHINES #1 Paula Craioveanu oil on canvas Neo Mythology FRAMED
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Man and the Machine #1", oil on canvas, 31.5x23.5in / 80x60cm Part of New Mythology series. Shipped as it is, stretched, framed. "Man and the Machine #1" is a striking fusion of cl...
Category

2010s Post-Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Heavy Arms" (2022) by Zack Zdrale, Original Oil Painting, Nude Male
Located in Denver, CO
"Heavy Arms" by Zack Zdrale (US based) is an original oil on panel depicting a nude male model in a pulling motion. Zack Zdrale (b. 1977) takes a traditional approach to his work a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Standing Young Woman" by Wilson - Nude Brunette Model over Black Background
Located in Carmel, CA
Shana Wilson (Canadian, born 1966) "Standing Young Woman" 2015 Oil Paint, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. Shana Wilson, born in Edmonton in 1966, ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

A Couple Embracing Nude Figures In The Landscape
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
A Couple Embracing Nude Figures In The Landscape Oil on wood panel 7"25h x 10"w with frame 11"x14" Late 19th Century oil on wood panel signed il...
Category

1890s Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Nude Portrait by WPA Artist Arthur Smith
Located in New York, NY
Arthur Smith (American, 1897-1972) Untitled (Nude), 20th century Oil on board 11 1/8 x 14 in. Framed: 17 x 20 in. Signed lower right: A Smith Arthur Sm...
Category

20th Century Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Do You Recall the Day? - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple
Located in Chicago, IL
Using pornography as a vehicle for understanding, Rick Sindt's work explores the discovery and development of queer attraction. Sindt transforms pornographic stills, repurposing them...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Nude Woman - Paint by Antonio Feltrinelli - 1930s
Located in Roma, IT
Nude Woman is a modern artwork realized by Antonio Feltrinelli in 1930s. Mixed colored oil painting on canvas Antonio Feltrinelli (Milan, 1887 – Gargnano, 1942) He was born in Mila...
Category

1930s Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Towards the Real me
Located in Zofingen, AG
ABOUT THE ARTWORK The artwork titled "Towards the Real Me" presents a thought-provoking blend of the figurative and the whimsical. Dominated by a vivid spectrum of turquoise and cora...
Category

2010s Feminist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Energy Field - Floating Nude Figure Surrounded by Hoops, Original Oil, Framed
Located in Chicago, IL
A nude figure is suspended in air, being held up by an invisible force field and surrounded by loops of wire. The muscular figure is tense with all the defined muscles showing. The...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Black and White Nude Woman in Acrylic, Gouache, and Charcoal on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
Black and White Nude Woman in Acrylic, Gouache, and Charcoal on Paper Black and white painting of a woman by acclaimed bluegrass musician Katherine ...
Category

1970s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic, Gouache

INWARD. Acrylic painting on canvas.
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The work explores an aspect of being exalted to the highest, destined to fall to the lowest by the judgment of ego. "Estrada-Duran combines realism and surrealism in his work, the a...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Aroused, Erotic Painting by George Grosz 1940
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: George Grosz, German (1893 - 1959) Title: Aroused Year: 1940 Medium: Oil on Paper, signed l.r. Paper Size: 24 x 18 in. (60.96 x 45.72 cm) Frame Size: 36 x 30 inches Prove...
Category

1940s Expressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Embers
Located in Denver, CO
"Embers," is an original oil painting by Tenaya Sims. It is framed and ready-to-hang.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Igniting the Inner Flame" by Jon Wassom, Mixed Media, Male Nude
Located in Denver, CO
Jon Wassom's "Igniting the Inner Flame" is an original, handmade mixed media painting that depicts an a male nude in a contemplative pose. This piece is unf...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Mid 20th C French Oil Cubist Nude Portrait of a Blonde Woman in a Grey Interior
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Nude Abstract by Therese Hummel (French, 1911-1999) oil on canvas, unframed canvas : 10.75 x 14 inches Provenance: private collection of this artists work, Paris Condition: sound and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Cubist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sake - Original Oil Painting 48" x 36"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This painting is inspired by Japanese elements and includes traditional decorative ornaments. It depicts a samurai and two geishas playing music and serving sake. The bright colors and the composition of the piece emphasize the merrymaking of drinking culture and express bright emotions associated with it. The sake makes this party possible, and the grid frames of the composition suggest that it is the viewer who is drunk. The painting is signed by the author and can be framed or unframed. It can decorate any corner of the room based on individual preference. The painting is signed on the back and on the front. The painting is framed. Framed dimensions: 54" x 42" x 2" Unframed dimensions: 48" x 36" x 1.5” Sergiy Andreyev...
Category

2010s Abstract Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Man 1, 120x55cm, oil on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Man 1, 2021, 120x55 cm
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Ornament, " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Suchitra Bhosle's "Ornament" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a nude blonde woman reclining on a white chaise lounge, her red skirt s...
Category

2010s Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Moonlight Sonata" Figurative Nude Original Painting
Located in Soquel, CA
Striking nocturnal nude figurative fine art painting by California artist John Bowler (American, 20/21st Century), 2001. Signed and dated Bowler 2001 lower right corner (photo image enhanced). Presented in pewter-toned wood frame under glass. Image size: 22"H x 15"W. Framed size: 33"H x 23.50"W. A Granite Bay...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Nude Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel

Challenging Conversations
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Challenging Conversation" by the talented artist Abdullateef Salaudeen is a compelling exploration of vulnerability, self-discovery, and the complexities of communication. The artwork features a young man in the act of pulling off his shirt, an action that transcends the physical realm and serves as a metaphor for the emotional layers being unveiled. Salaudeen's keen attention to detail is evident in the nuanced expression on the young man's face. The furrowed brow and intense gaze suggest a struggle, not only with the fabric of his shirt but also with internal conflicts and emotions. The artist masterfully captures the raw, unfiltered moments of personal challenge, inviting viewers to empathize with the subject's journey. The choice of title, "Challenging Conversation," adds depth to the narrative, suggesting that the act of removing the shirt symbolizes a dialogue within oneself—a confrontation with inner thoughts, doubts, or perhaps an attempt to shed societal expectations. The artist prompts viewers to contemplate the unseen narratives and untold stories that lie beneath the surface. Salaudeen's use of color and composition further enhances the emotional impact of the artwork. Subtle tones and careful shades of grey create a realistic yet painterly atmosphere, adding a layer of intimacy to the scene. The dynamic composition captures the transient nature of the moment, freezing the young man's struggle in time and inviting viewers to engage with the narrative at their own pace. "Challenging Conversation" resonates as a poignant exploration of the universal human experience, where moments of self-reflection and personal growth are often accompanied by internal dialogues that require courage and resilience. Abdullateef Salaudeen's work serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty found in vulnerability and the strength that emerges from confronting one's challenges. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. (Issues by the Gallery) About Artist Abdulateef Salaudeen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Tapestry
Located in Denver, CO
"Tapestry," is an original oil painting by Tenaya Sims. It is framed and ready-to-hang.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Hawaii
Located in New York, NY
Gouache on paper Signed and dated, l.r. This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City Born in California, John Button (1929-1982) was educated at University of Calif...
Category

1970s Realist Nude Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper

Le Chef d'oeuvre inconnu - 21st Century, Male, Nude, Contemporary, Yellow
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Le Chef d'oeuvre inconnu, 2022 acrylic on canvas 73 1/32 H x 53 5/32 W in. 185.5 H x 135 W cm The work "The Unknown Masterpiece" (a paraphrase of Balzac's novella – Le Chef d'oeuvre...
Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Hot Afternoon
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category

2010s American Realist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Impressionist Female Nude, Classic Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Impressionist Female Nude, Classic Oil Painting By French artist Garnvault, 20th Century Signed by the artist verso Oil painting on canvas, u...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Morning. Women's act. 1959. Oil on cardboard, 95x71 cm
Located in Riga, LV
The morning hour. Act. 1959. Oil on cardboard, 95x71 cm Alfejs Bromults (1913.3.IV - 1991.11.I) His first professional education was at National University at studies to R.Suta, J....
Category

1950s Realist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Female Nude in Front of a Curtain with Clothes - Oil on Canvas - 18th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Female nude in front of a curtain with clothes is an old master artwork realized by an Italian artist in the early 18th century, Mixed colored oil on canvas. Good condition.
Category

Early 18th Century Modern Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Shop Antique and Vintage Nude Paintings

Today, antique and vintage nude paintings are popular works of art to consider when decorating your home.

The nude as an artist’s subject gained prominence in ancient Greece, wherein male nudes were rendered equivalent to power and victory owing to the Greeks’ celebration of men in athletic events as well as in the worship of the gods who populate Greek mythology. Nude sculptures in Greece positioned men as warriors — strong, moral and fearless. The naked female figures featured in prehistoric art and the art of ancient civilizations, on the other hand, were symbols of fertility and procreation.

Italian painters of the 1400s looked to the magnificent nude sculptures of Greek and Roman art for inspiration. By the end of the century, drawing of undressed models was part of the common practice for these artists. When Christianity had spread through Europe, however, Christians condemned Renaissance nude paintings — most of which are considered famous nude paintings today — because they were erotic, exploring, in some cases, same-sex relationships as well as women’s sexual power. Censorship was the order of the day, except for religious-themed works, such as 1526’s iconic Adam and Eve, an oil painting made by German Renaissance painter Lucas Cranach the Elder, one of more than 50 works made in his workshop based on the biblical story. Tuscan painter Daniele da Volterra was famously hired to paint fig leaves over the most exposed figures of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. While freedom of expression for artists has expanded significantly since then, prudish censorship persists when it comes to Renaissance nudity.

On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of authentic antique and vintage nude paintings, from works focused on the reliably reclining figures of Impressionist-style art to oil paintings created by contemporary artists who often work to reject the idealized human forms and unrealistic depictions of female nudes that preceded them. Additionally, find a primer on 1stDibs on how to arrange wall art as well as tips on creating salon-style gallery walls for presenting the wonderfully provocative nude paintings you’ve decided to bring into your home.

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