Thursday, January 28, 2010

One more Venus

The Birth of Venus (1862) by the French academic painter Eugène-Emmanuel Amaury-Duval (1808-1885). Maybe it’s a nice nude but else it’s a boring repetition of countless paintings with the same subject.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Gorgeous Birds

Imperia by the great Australian painter Norman Lindsay (1879-1969). With his characteristic irony Lindsay confronts here to gorgeous narcissistic birds.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Morning Allegory

Songs of the Morning is a typical Victorian nude painting, this time a kind of allegory. It’s by the British painter Henrietta Rae (1859 - 1928 ) who was a friend of Sir Frederic Leighton who became also her mentor.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Manierist Nude

Many of these 19th century nudes and odalisques are inspired by the perfect Venus by the Flemish manierist painter Jan Massys (1509-1575). One of the best nudes in art history.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Reclined Odalisque

A reclined odalisque waiting for her sheik by the French painter Léon-François Comerre (1850-1916).