Sickert Opposes Nude Models

This is rather priceless coming from an artist who painted many nudes in compromising and somewhat disturbing poses.

SHALL THE NUDE GO?

Letters have been exchanged in recent numbers of the Pall Mall Gazette, between Mr. Walter Sickert and other artists, on the value of the nude model in art schools. The question has arisen out of the decision of a provincial body to abolish the nude model in its schools. Mr. Sickert thinks that for general training in drawing and painting, such as the municipal schools can give, the authorities in question are setting an excellent example in dropping the nude model. Clothed models are more useful, for four reasons - (1) The world being filled with clothed persons, modern painters will have more need to learn how to paint them than to paint nudes. (2) The clothed model includes a greater variety of form and colour than the nude. (3) The high temperature necessitated is extremely injurious to young students, and to women, of whom the classes largely consist. (4) The absence of the nude model will eliminate a certain number of students who are drawn by mere curiosity. When students have attained some mastery in drawing and painting from the clothed model it will always be open to those who wish to specialise in the nude to pursue their studies further in this direction.

Source: Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 32, 7 February 1914, Page 10