![]() The French public was not ready to receive such a bold painting that deviated so strongly from what they were used to. And unlike the demure and reserved reclining nudes of the past, Manet’s modernized version features a woman who addresses the viewer and holds a firm posture.Ĭontroversy: The painting caused quite an uproar when it was displayed in the Paris Salon in 1865. There is no beauty or goddess to admire the viewer is confronted with Olympia’s sexuality as well as the reality of prostitution in Paris. In his painting, Manet reduced the female nude to a much more realistic form. His reclining nude, like most, was shrouded in perfection and mythology. Titian’s painting is a classic example of the female nude as a manifestation of ideal beauty. Édouard Manet got his inspiration for Olympia from the Venus of Urbino, the iconic Renaissance painting by Titian in the Uffizi Museum. Laure served as the model for the maid, and she posed for several other paintings of Manet. Manet liked her as a model because of her petite stature and red hair. She was a painter herself and served as a model for various artists. ![]() At her feet is a startled black cat with its tail raised.īackstory: Victorine Meurent served as the model for Olympia. She appears flat and stands in stark contrast to the dark brown and green background behind her. Olympia’s body has dark outlines and broad color that lacks shading. Instead, Manet painted her realistically. She is pale, and her features are not idealized as was typically done by other artists at this time. Olympia’s left hand is firmly placed over her private area. She rests atop a floral cloth, staring directly at the viewer as her servant presents her with a bouquet (perhaps a gift from an admirer or patron). What do you see? A Parisian prostitute, Olympia, lies down on her bed in her apartment. Where? Room 14 on the Ground floor of the Musée d’Orsay ![]()
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