Within the frame - The Male Nude

During the Renaissance the male body was portrayed less frequently than its female counterpart. With the advent of studies at the French Academy in Rome, the male nude became, on the contrary, the most important exercise for the student painter, to the point where a work portraying a naked man became known as “Academy Study”. Look at the figure in “Charon Ferrying the Shades” by Subleyras or the “Male Nude or Hector” by David. The male nude also represents the heroic nude, for example in Ingres’ painting “Oedipus and the Sphinx”. Enjoy your visit!