Standing Female Nude With Drapery - Oil On Panel By William Etty Royal Academy

A beautiful, large oil on panel painting of a female nude by the renowned Victorian artist William Etty RA. The sitter is depicted full-length against the drapery, her eyes cast down to the right, and she appears in a reflective mood. It is clear from this fine work why Etty was responsible for raising the status of the female nude in Victorian art. The coloring of his works is inspired by Venetian art, and the sensual treatment of voluptuous nudes such as this recalls the work of Rubens (1577-1640). The fluid brushstrokes and warm, rich colors used here also reflect the influence of Delacroix (1798-1863). He also uses dramatic contrasts of light and dark to enliven a conventional pose, and it is clear that the artist's primary interest here is the sitter's torso and the dynamism of her flesh, set against a richly colored background. This beautiful painting is in an excellent state of preservation and is ready to hang in a later gilt antique frame. William Etty (1747 - 1849). Born in Yorkshire, William Etty was born into modest circumstances. He was the son of a miller and a 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 the works of 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, as well as several examples of the nude figure. His artistic talent saw him rise to a prominent position in the Victorian art world. During his lifetime, Etty's fascination and concentration with nude painting 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 "fleshyness" was much commented on. An extremely shy man, Etty rarely socialized 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 establishing the first city and country art school to preserve York's city walls. Etty continued to be prolific and commercially successful until his health deteriorated and he retired to York in 1848. He died in 1849, shortly after a major retrospective exhibition, after which his works sold for large sums and became highly collectible, and changing tastes meant his work subsequently fell into disuse, and he remained little known throughout the 20th century. Thanks to Etty's inclusion in Tate Britain's landmark exhibition Exposed: The Victorian Nude in 2001-2002 and a major retrospective of her work at York Art Gallery in 2011-2012, there has been a resurgence of interest in the work of this remarkable artist. High-resolution images on request. Worldwide shipping available. Provenance: At J. Legerr et Fils. Private collection USA. Canvas: 34" x 19" / 49cm x 87cm. Framed: 41.5” x 27”/ 106cm x 69cm