Representing desire, ideal beauty, original sin and maternal fertility, the female nude is ubiquitous in the history of art. First emerging as a standard of ideal beauty in the ancient world, the subject has become an endless source of inspiration for artists over the centuries. The female body has come to represent a myriad of themes, at once sensual and beautiful, evoking a desire that is ever unattainable. She is mother, wife, lover and goddess, existing in both mythical worlds and domestic realms that are personal and comforting.

Au Naturel: The Art of the Female Form explores this ever-alluring subject through over four centuries of fine art, contemplating the styles, artists and themes that have defined and redefined the nude over the centuries. Exploring the subject from the perspectives of myth, religion, allegory and everyday life, these works reveal the cultural and symbolic importance of the nude in their respective ages, as well as the innumerable ways the female figure has been interpreted, displayed, viewed and celebrated.