Imagine how hard it was for an artist to be accepted socially in Victorian times if nudes were their artistic forte. But paint in some wispy wings to make them faerie, and then nudity was quite acceptable. Joseph Noel Paton, who painted these two naiads, or water nymphs, was one of the better known faerie fine artists.
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Yet in this period painting of the nudes was at it apogee: when words 'salon' or 'academism' mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is some scene from classical antiquity which naturally centered around human body. As for England, Frederick LEIGHTON and Edward Poynter come to mind in this regard. Maybe Victorian era was not so puritanical?
Alexei
Alexei, from my (admittedly limited) understanding of the period, and using fuzzy logic, I am convinced that the era was not puritanical, but hypocritical. Actually I believe that to be the case in most eras. Artists (of all disciplines) create the cathartic release, from pent-up social mores, so needed to help keep civilization civil. In my opinion.
Today I found my own Naiads as I walked by my stream. It was their musical voices that hooked me, but I did imagine they looked like any other young girls.
Excellent.
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