#artistic nude

Don’t be shy;)

Brilliant Mediterranean sunshine and deep, sharp shadow create quite dramatic contrast for this sweetly demure portrait by Guglielmo Plüschow - perhaps the model’s own modesty called for some small covering, or the photographer’s wish for a less revealing selection of pictures to cater for those of more reserved tastes.

A quite remarkably handsome young man, his features as near to perfection as any yet seen here, reclining in the pleasant peace of the hills near Taormina, a tantalising hint of a smile on his lips as he arches his back catlike in the sun. The dark drape of fabric preserving his modesty does little to detract from the sensuality of his pose, and the photograph remains as seductive as any more explicit offering in Guglielmo Plüschow’s catalolgue.

Another familiar and distinctive face this evening - as his previous picture was so deservedly well-received I thought I would include another of Asrah, the model of striking good looks who appeared in so much of Wilhelm von Gloeden’s work throughout his time in Taormina.

I may have waxed lyrical on the hazy, dreamlike qualities of F. Holland Day’s beautiful outdoor nudes before, and I know many of you must prefer clarity over atmosphere, yet I cannot help once more admiring the grainy, glowing softness in these turn of the century pictures which gives them such enduring charm.

Despite being titled merely “Boy with Spear”, I (and all those who have followed for long enough to recognise one of the undoubted stars of this collection) can add that the classically handsome 19-year-old model in question is none other than Vincenzo Galdi. We have even seen him holding this spear once before.

Though dark and indistinct, this von Gloeden photograph is still an evocative image of lazy, languid relaxation, catlike he stretches in the sun, a contented sigh, can’t you almost hear the hum of insects all arund him, and the birds in the wide flawlessly blue summer sky.

Photographed in 1886, the position this strong young man adopts is reminiscent of the famous Flandrin pose, but more tense and tightly tucked.

I have posted a few of Thomas Eakins’ group photographs in recent weeks, so here is one a little different for a change, a single model posed alone (circa 1888).

A strikingly handsome young man with intensely soulful dark eyes, photographed in Rome in the late 1890s, by Guglielmo Plüschow.

An eye-catching image by Guglielmo Plüschow, this slender Sicilian model with his legs tucked tight to his body, and just the faintest glimpse of his eyes seen beneath the shadow of his forward-falling dark curls.

Another of F. Holland Day’s dreamily beautiful Orpheus photographs, featuring (the also dreamily beautiful!) Nicola Giancola. At first I thought this a cropped detail of a photograph I had seen and shared before, but the angle changes between exposures.

This Plüschow photograph appears oddly cropped, neither full artistic nude nor close enough to be a portrait - if anyone should own a more complete copy and wish to share it, please do send it in!

A sublime photograph in which everything is perfect - the fine-featured young model with luscious curves and dramatic pose, the poignant, tragically picturesque ruins of Pompeii, the sunlight drawing delicate shadows on his ribs, even the detailed carving along the edge of the step adds to one beautiful image.

A sun-dappled beauty from Wilhelm von Gloeden, circa 1890.

The Pool, by George Henry Seeley, January 1910

Youth with Staff Shielding Eyes, by F. Holland Day, 1906. Curiously this picture seems to be found only in this shape, I’d be interested to see the entire photograph but as some other of Day’s work appears to be cut into unusual shapes, it’s possible the original was trimmed and we shall never know what this model’s elbows looked like!

I’ve liked this photograph for a long while, gazing out across the water he seems almost unaware his picture is being taken, relaxed and at ease to be outdoors undressed.

Regrettably I don’t have the name of the photographer, only that it was a shot from 1906/07 - I appeal to you, good readers of discerning taste and extensive knowledge, if anyone knows the artist I will be glad to add that information here!

[edit : My gratitude to one of my well-informed followers, who tells us “The photograph was published in the 1906 volume of Photograms of the Year, where it’s titled Bather and credited to Dr. A. Wilhelmij.”] 

Our regular dose of Carlo, lover of Robert Kitson and photographed by Vincenzo Galdi. I still have a few more from his photoshoot saved up ready to share, I do hope you dear readers not becoming bored seeing so many of the same model, but he is rather lovely so I shall continue until I run out of pictures!

A fine young man displays his body for the camera with pride in this early 20th century nude. Though I don’t recognise the model from other images, the fabrics here indicate this to be by Vincenzo Galdi, the same pieces can be seen in many of his photographs (such as that dear favourite, the full-length portrait of Carlo)