In Western art history, the artistic nude male body has been always central. In this video, I explore how Greek nude men as statutes in archaic and classical art shaped the way Baroque artists painted Christian saints, martyrs and heroes.
From calm marble statues to dramatic Baroque paintings, the male form was transformed from pagan ideal to sacred symbol. This visual essay looks at Greek sculpture, Christian theology and Baroque art history through close observation of the male form — where beauty, restraint, devotion and desire quietly intersect.
Read the full essay here – 6 min read 📖
From the calm composure of Polykleitos' Doryphoros to the twisting agony of Bernini's David and the tenderness of Caravaggio's Saint Sebastian, I uncover the hidden theological strategy behind the nude body in Christian art.
This isn't just art history; it's a look at how desire was disciplined into devotion.
About Notes from the Traveling Painter: I’m Dimitri Ross, a figurative artist based in Amsterdam. In my Youtube vlog Notes from the Traveling Painter, I explore the world through an artist’s eyes — from quiet museum visits to encounters with beauty, light and shadows. Notes from the Traveling Painter is a series about learning how to look slowly at art, form and meaning.