Study Of A Bearded Male Nude 

William Etty’s Study Of A Bearded Male Nude is an undated oil on canvas study of a nude man. Etty lived and worked during a time when the nude was a highly regarded subject in academic art, often linked to ideas of classical beauty and the ideal form. Etty was celebrated and also critiqued for his devotion to painting the nude figure, pushing against the prevailing social norms of Victorian England, which were often prudish. He once stated, "I hope to be a great painter, to be an imitator of God." What does it mean to imitate God? Etty focused on themes of passion and human experience through his art. This piece maintains the tradition of the male nude, but by depicting a bearded man, Etty also subtly subverts the flawless Greek ideal. The man's pose and expression convey a sense of introspection and lived experience, inviting us to consider his inner thoughts. Ultimately, this study transcends mere physicality, inviting us to contemplate the emotional and psychological dimensions of its subject.