ticketsMember | Make a donation

Bill Duckett Nude, at the Art Students’ League of Philadelphia

Thomas Eakins American
ca. 1889
Not on view
In the 1880s and 1890s, Eakins explored various artistic applications of photography, from motion studies jointly produced with Eadweard Muybridge to an inventory of naturalistic poses referred to as the "naked series." He also used photography as a formidable tool in the classroom. Indeed, he was forced to resign as director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1886 after outcries arose against his use of nude male models in women’s classes. A group of loyal students rallied to his defense, however, and formed the Art Students’ League of Philadelphia, where Eakins made several photographic studies of Bill Duckett, the young companion of Walt Whitman. This enlarged platinum print displays his masterful fusion of photographic naturalism with a decidedly romantic sensibility.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bill Duckett Nude, at the Art Students’ League of Philadelphia
  • Artist: Thomas Eakins (American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1844–1916 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • Date: ca. 1889
  • Medium: Platinum print
  • Dimensions: 23.3 x 22 cm (9 3/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
  • Classification: Photographs
  • Credit Line: David Hunter McAlpin Fund, 1943
  • Object Number: 43.87.20
  • Curatorial Department: Photographs

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Frank MacDowell, Thomas Eakins American, Glass positive
Frank MacDowell
Thomas Eakins
1880s
Catherine Flanagan Towne
Thomas Eakins
1880s
Margaret Eakins, Thomas Eakins American, Glass positive
Margaret Eakins
Thomas Eakins
1880s
Margaret Eakins
Thomas Eakins
1883
Women Seated on the Grass
Thomas Eakins
1880s

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.