Background The Dawn of Love (painting)

pandora crowned seasons (1824). following success of cleopatra, etty tried replicate success further history paintings containing nude figures.

william etty born in 1787, son of york baker , miller. began apprentice printer in hull. on completing seven-year apprenticeship moved @ age of 18 london few pieces of chalk crayons , intention of becoming history painter in tradition of old masters. enrolled @ royal academy, , after year spent studying under renowned portrait painter thomas lawrence, etty returned royal academy, drawing @ life class , copying other paintings. follower of john opie, promoted unfashionable painting style of titian , rubens on then-prevalent formal style of joshua reynolds, etty unsuccessful in academy s competitions , every work submitted royal academy summer exhibition in 1810s rejected. in 1821 royal academy accepted , exhibited 1 of etty s works in summer exhibition, arrival of cleopatra in cilicia (also known triumph of cleopatra). painting extremely received, , many of etty s fellow artists admired him. became respected ability capture flesh tones accurately in painting, , fascination contrasts in skin tones. following exhibition of cleopatra, on next decade etty tried replicate success painting nude figures in biblical, literary , mythological settings.

while nudes foreign artists held in private english collections, country had no tradition of nude painting , display , distribution of nude material public had been suppressed since 1787 proclamation discouragement of vice. etty first british artist specialise in nude, , reaction of lower classes these paintings caused concern throughout 19th century. many critics condemned repeated depictions of female nudity indecent, although portraits of male nudes received.

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