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Sunday, February 4, 2024

Sam Murray


It wasn't until decades after Thomas Eakins' death that his neice found letters indicating what many had long suspected, i.e. that Eakins and Samuel Murray (above) were lovers.

 

7 comments:

  1. Wow. Adopting the classic life model hip twist to extend the pose length.

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    1. I noticed that, too, but didn't know what to call it. Thanks!

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    2. I'm not sure what it is called. It's a natural stance that we all do if standing for a long time. Shifting the torso out of vertical alignment, to sort of rest it on the hips. Probably not good for one's posture, but it creates a nice view.

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    3. it is called “contraposto”, in Latin, literally “S-curve “… a relaxed, hip thrust or serpentine pose first utilized in classical Greek, and ancient Roman sculptures and later used extensively in the Renaissance and classical periods of modern art…

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    4. So it has a name and quite a history. Thanks!

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  2. It’s amazing that she revealed it at all. Many “love” letters and revealing letters are often kept secret or just destroyed so as not to reveal certain aspects of their loved ones lives. Too much has been lost to history that way. So good the niece shared the truth.

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    1. The niece, like many others close to Mr. Eakins, was ahead of her time in that regard.

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