Period Portraits has dated this piece to the Victorian era.
It is clear from this fine work why Etty was was responsible for raising the status of the nude in Victorian art. The colouring of his works draws on Venetian art and the sensuous handling of voluptuous nudes such as this call to mind the work of Rubens (1577-1640) The fluid brushstrokes and warm, rich colours of the artist also often reflect the influence of Delacroix (1798-1863)
Etty also uses dramatic contrasts of light and dark to enliven this dramatic pose and it is clear that the artists primary interest here is the model's torso and the vibrancy of his flesh, set against a richly coloured background.
This fine work is in an excellent state of conservation with vivid colours and impasto brushwork. It is ready to hang and enjoy in its fine original antique gilt frame.
William Etty (1787 - 1849). Yorkshire born William Etty was born into humble circumstances, he was the son of a miller and baker and one of eleven children. He left school at the age of 12 to become an apprentice printer in Hull. He completed his apprenticeship seven years later and moved to London,
In 1807 he joined the Royal Academy Schools. There he studied under Thomas Lawrence and trained by copying works by other artists.
Etty earned respect at the Royal Academy of Arts for his ability to paint realistic flesh tones. He also painted historical and mythical scenes and well as several examples of the nude figure.His artistic talented saw him rise to a position of dominance in the early Victorian art world
During his lifetime Etty’s fascination with and focus on painting the nude gave rise to debate and controversy. All but one of the 15 paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1820 and 1829 included nude figures and etty's 'fleshiness' was much commented on.
An extremely shy man, Etty rarely socialised and never married. From 1824 until his death he lived with his niece Betsy (Elizabeth Etty). Even in London he retained a keen interest in his native York, and was instrumental in the establishment of the town's first art school and the campaign to preserveYork city walls.
Etty continued to be was prolific and commercially successful until his health deteriorated and retired to York in 1848. He died in 1849, shortly after a major retrospective exhbition, after which his works sold for large sums and became highly collectable and Changing tastes meant his work later fell out of fashion, and he remained little known throughout the 20th century. Thanks to Etty's inclusion inTate Britains landmark Exposed: The Victorian Nude exhibition in 2001–02 and a major retrospective of his work at York Art gallery in in 2011–12 there has been renewed interest in the work of this remarkable artist.
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Provenance: With Julian Simon Fine Art London. Private collection USA.
Exhibitions: London Society of Arts 1848, London Brook Street Gallery 1938, London Adams Gallery 1946, York Corporation Art Gallery and Museum 1949, UK Arts Council 1965, Rye Art Gallery 1974.
Canvas: 22” x 14.25 ” / 56cm x 36.5 cm.
Framed: 23.75” x 16”/ 60.25cm x 40cm
Period Portraits has dated this piece to the Victorian era.
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19th Century English Oil on Paper Study of a Male Nude - By William Etty Ra 1787-1849.
