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"Five Olympic Rowers", Monumental 1930s Painting of Nude Male Oarsmen

About the Item

One of the most stunning and monumental depictions of male nude figures -- and male athletes -- ever accomplished in the Modern era, this large painting shows five nude rowers, relaxed and conversational, as they hold their oars and await the next round of competition. The figures are shown with flushed, ruddy complexions, contrasting with the fresh green of the grass and trees surrounding them. The artist, James Stroudley, presents his rowers as consummate modern British men, with fashionable haircuts and elongated bodies, but his relaxed depiction of strong nude male figures harkens back to the Renaissance and Classical periods, when nude sculptures were displayed without embarrassment or self-consciousness. In 1930, Stroudley was named the first Abbey Scholar, entitling him to a period of study at the British School in Rome, during which time he painted this and other paintings depicting idealized nude athletes. The painting is oil on canvas, and is stretched but not framed.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 88 in (223.52 cm)Width: 70 in (177.8 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1930
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865129697912
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