In The Studio: Artists and Nude Models

At the turn of the last century, one of the few social positions lower than actor was artist's model. They were seen often as dire characters outside the edge of normalcy, and often assumed to be prostitutes (as were actors). Yet, they were still sought after as painter's models for the large classically inspired salon paintings of the time. And there seemed to be no shortage of very fit young men perfectly willing to spend hours completely naked while swarthy artists (with very cute beards and mustaches) closely examined their unclothed bodies in minute detail. It's for the art!

The situation was novel enough that there is a fairly large number of existing photos of naked men lounging about dank and dusty ateliers with groups of clothed men crowded about them. This was a special pre-YouTube moment when nudity still meant something outrageous and lofty at the same time.

The painting class stops to pose with the model at Academie des Beaux Arts

Unknown origin.

Click through for more studio nudity >>>

Legendary physique model Eugene Sandow

John Koch, The Sculptor, 1964

Unknown origin.

Maurice Lecesne, Louis Leopold Boilly L'Atelier de Jean Houdon. Musee national des chateaux de Versailles et de Trianon

Adriaan de Lelie, Andreas Bonn Lectures the Drawing Academy of the Felix Meritus Society. 1792

Martin Ferdinand, Quadal Life Class in the Vienna Academy. 1787

Antoine Jean Bail, The Drawing Workshop at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts

The Ecole des Beaux-Arts painting studio.

After the Sitting, John Koch

Leon Matthieu Cochereau, Interieur de L'Atelier de David au College des Quatre Nations.

Francois Salle, The Anatomy Cass at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, 1888

, Alfred Munnings Study of a Male Nude in the Academie Julian

Alexandre Cabanel, Albayde, 1848

Laurtiz Tuxen, Male Nude in the Studio of Bonnat, 1877

Study photo from the Thomas Eakins studio

Study photo from the Thomas Eakins studio

Study photo from the Thomas Eakins studio

The Eakins School, Charles Stephens Anatomy Lecture

Wilhelm Bendz, Life Class at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, 1826

John Singer Sargeant, Male Nude Study

Gottfrid Kallstenius, Seated Male Model. 1887-88, Royal Academy of Fine Arts

William Bendz, Sculptor Christen Christensen in His Studio, 1827