Panathinaeos Paintings IIb: Three Female Nudes for a quite Sunday evening – Updated June 2013

Today I present to you three of the  female nudes I painted over the last few years. The choice of subject was triggered by a wave of exhibitions on the nude (Nestorideion in Rhodes, Fryssira in Athens).

I start with “Red Sand”, a picture that belongs to Sahara, to the vast emptiness, to the deep contrasts. The girl is Italian, her name Antonella. She is resting after a long day, contemplating the green horizon. She covers with her body a rose given to her by her lover, who is due to arrive at any moment. the anticipation of his arrival fills the young body with adrenalin and joy. Emptiness is temporary.

Red Sand

Red Sand

Width: 100 cm Height: 60cm

Materials: Oil on canvas

In my personal collection

The second picture belongs to the 19th century. The woman in the picture, is proudly announcing to us that Khalil Bey likes her. Her name is Leila and she comes from Iran. She is resting on the pier of the main port of the island of Chios. Bodrum (Halicarnassus) is seen in the background. Khalil Bei is returning to Chios from his trip to Bodrum and Leila is full of expectations. She announces to the world that Khalil Bey likes her and in a sense anticipates that the art patron will take her with him back to Paris.

Khalil Bey likes me

Khalil Bey likes me

Width: 120 cm Height: 60cm

Materials: Acrylic on canvas

In my personal collection

Khalil Bey was a Turkish diplomat in Paris in the second half of the 19th century. He was an avid collector, and he owned “The source of Life”, the famous Courbet painting that was prohibited from public view, was acquired by Lacan, to end up in one of the bathrooms of his house.

The third picture is a picture of longing. A young woman is naked and watches out from a window.

Alicia

Alicia

Width: 80 cm Height: 100cm

Materials: Oil on canvas

In private collection

Her name is Alicia and the place is the Spanish port of Ferrol, in the Atlantic. She is married to Pedro, a military naval officer, currently on a mission to Argentina. She goes naked to the window everyday, as Pedro is for a few seconds becoming wind and comes to touch and caress her.