#vintage male nude

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

An acrobatic model some of you may remember seeing once before, his a deservedly popular photograph from 1899, (and featured as one of my personal favourites of the year); it is a delight to find a second shot recording his strength and gymnastic skill for all time.

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.

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 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)

A bonus post for this leap-year’s added day - a splendid selection of the most beautiful bums in antique photography! (Each description below links to the individual post, should you wish to single them out.)

1.A man with a sword, unknown, 1910s
2.A model from Rome, by Vincenzo Galdi, 1910s
3.Edoardo in Pompeii, by Guglielmo Plüschow, c1895
4.Vincenzo Galdi in Naples, by Guglielmo Plüschow, c1890
5.Bill Duckett, by Thomas Eakins, between 1887-1892
6. A piper, by Guglielmo Plüschow, 1890s
7.Tom White on Newporth Beach, in association with Henry Scott Tuke, 1917
8.Nino Cesarini, by Guglielmo Plüschow, c1910
9.A cyclist, by Guglielmo Plüschow, circa 1900.
10.A trio of models, by Wilhelm von Gloeden, 1890s.

This photograph from the end of the 19th century struck me as instantly familiar, and soon I realised why - it is in fact the rear view of a strapping young fellow we have seen facing the camera.

A lean willowy model of incredibly handsome face poses for Guglielmo Plüschow, circa 1905, simple white background allowing his beauty to stand out with no need for embellishment.

A fine Victorian stereoscopic photograph with a musical theme, a handsome violinist poses entirely nude - for reasons unexplained, as this is not a profession or pastime generally performed without respectable attire! This must have been a naughty delight at the time, the double image forming a fascinating three-dimensional illusion (a forerunner of the later 3D photographs and film viewed with coloured glasses) and as with all new technological innovations, swiftly turned toward making novel forms of erotica.

With his model draped in such a wanton, utterly deliciously debauched way, inviting not mere aesthetic admiration but outright lust and thoughts of satisfying deepest desires, turn-of-the-century photographer Vincenzo Galdi pushes way beyond the limits of decency in his era; abandoning all pretence of innocent artistic intentions, he creates some of the most startlingly sexual images of male nudity yet seen.

The rather indistinct hazy quality of this picture by Vincenzo Galdi does not detract from the loveliness of the scene, which reminds me of this other image from the same photographer - perhaps even the same model there on the right.

With a twisted garland tied into his tousled hair, this von Gloeden model strikes an elegant pose in the ruins of an ancient Roman building, the bright sun catching and emphasising his curves.

A model of magnificent physical form and presence, though sadly we have neither his name nor that of the photographer who created this striking image - and this other in which he looks even more impressive!

Deep black shadows and bright brilliant light bring striking emphasis to the fine figure of this curvaceous leaf-garlanded model, in a sun-drenched shot from Guglielmo Plüschow, circa 1895.

Carefully positioned to preserve his modesty without the rather affected, and by this time out-dated, addition of a paper fig-leaf, this 1910s nude is refreshingly bold and modern in appearance. Something about the way he sits brings to mind the physique photographs of the 1950s far more than the classical style favoured ‘til the turn of the century.

The drawing of a bow produces an interesting and powerfully taut pose, this example is sadly bereft of its correct credits. I have other archers collected together here.

An early 20th century photograph, striking in its simplicity with an unfussy, unpretentious pose, and no studio props to distract the eye and detract from the fine physique and charming handsome face of this unknown model.

The printed inscription on this magnificent man’s photograph looked familiar, on investigation I found I have another from the same photographer, one K. Pospishil of Bohemia.