Male Nude known as Hector 1778

Jacques Louis David painted this oil on canvas, entitled 'Male Nude known as Hector', in France in the late 1770s. The artwork presents a classical subject in a style that embodies Neoclassicism, a movement that looked back to the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. The male nude became a prominent subject in academic art during the 18th century, playing a key role in artistic training and the establishment of canons of taste. David received his artistic training at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, which promoted the idea that art should be morally uplifting and contribute to the public good. In portraying the male nude, artists like David frequently drew upon classical sources, referencing a cultural tradition that associated the nude male form with heroism, civic virtue, and physical perfection. This artwork is an example of the ways that artistic institutions shaped the production and reception of art. Art historians consult a wide range of sources such as letters, diaries, and institutional records to develop a deeper understanding of the art of the past.