About this artwork

Eardley frequently painted clothed figures, but this starkly painted nude is unique in her work. The figure is painted in confident, block-like brushstrokes in the manner of Nicolas de Staël. The model was Eardley’s friend Angus Neil, who posed for her on a number of occasions in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The painting aroused controversy when it was exhibited in Edinburgh in 1955 since it was considered daring for a woman to paint a naked man. After receiving such unfavourable press, Eardley did not complete any similar subjects.

Updated before 2020

see media
  • artist:
  • title:
    Sleeping Nude
  • date created:
    1955
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    76.00 x 155.20 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Presented by Mrs Irene Eardley 1964
  • accession number:
    GMA 897
  • gallery:
  • subject:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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Joan Eardley

Joan Eardley