Bodies of nature: classical pleasure 1780-1840

Nice small exhibition at Tate Britain looking at the move from the idea of art having a moral or theological meaning towards that of presenting ideal beauty in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The focus of the display was the idea of the nymph as an example of physical perfection but with an erotic theme as well. The first English translation of a book on nymphomania was published in 1775 and led to the new idea of the erotic imagination. Many of the works on show were of an aesthetic which is now out of fashion so although famous in their time they are in poor condition now.

There were artists represented here who I had not come across before and who have fallen out of fashion such as Stothard with works such as “The Vintage” of a wine harvest. It was great to see an Etty and to see that even Gainsborough and Reynolds joined in this trend.

I would have liked to see a little bit of reference back to the art historic past as I would see Titian and Cranach’s influence in some of these works.

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