Eakins' Models

1. Thomas Eakins posed nude himself in the 1880's.

2. Eakins nude playing pipes - 1883.

3. Eakins and J. Laurie Wallace nude on the bank - 1883.

4. Eakins and Wallace nude on bank from behind - 1883

I've mentioned Thomas Eakins before, but he deserves another visit. Like Marconi, Eakins blurred the line between photography and fine art. He photographed his models, painted them, occasionally stepped in front of the camera himself, and even included himself in works like Swimming. 

5. Reference photo for Eakins' painting Swimming - 1885. Also included in this photo is his model, Billy Duckett and himself climbing out of the water far right.  The models were said to be his art students at UPenn in Philadelphia.

6. Swimming (sometimes labeled Swimming Hole) by Eakins - 1885. Eakins painted himself into the painting as the swimmer in lower right corner.

Living in Philadelphia also connects him to another recent subject, Eadweard Muybridge, who collaborated with him on motion studies.

7. Billy Duckett sitting profile in a chair - 1889 - by Eakins

8. Billy Duckett reclining on side - 1889 - by Eakins

This set follows a few of those threads through boxer Billy "Turkey Point" Smith, longtime model Billy Duckett, and the photographs behind paintings like Swimming and Wrestlers. 

9. Between Rounds -1889 - painted by Thomas Eakins with his model, Billy "Turkey Point" Smith, as central figure. Smith and Eakins remained close friends (and possibly more) between the time of this painting and the end of Eakins' life in 1916. Smith was Eakins primary caretaker in his final years of failing health.

10. Billy Smith close-up in Between Rounds.

It's another reminder that these images rarely existed in isolation. One photograph often became a painting, and one model could shape an artist's work for years.

11. Joseph McCann (top) was another Eakins model who posed for his painting Wrestlers in 1899.

12. Wrestlers by Thomas Eakins - 1899.

Please leave thoughts, questions or corrections in the comments. Thank you. bns