 While some nudes existed in private collections , England had no tradition of nude painting and the display and distribution of nude material to the public had been suppressed since the 1787 Proclamation for the Discouragement of Vice . Etty was the first British artist to specialise in the nude , and the reaction of the lower classes to these paintings caused concern throughout the 19th century . Although his portraits of male nudes were generally well received , many critics condemned his repeated depictions of female nudity as indecent . 
 While some nudes existed in private collections , England had no tradition of nude painting and the display and distribution of nude material to the public <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> been suppressed since the 1787 Proclamation for the Discouragement of Vice . Etty was the first British artist to specialise in the nude , and the reaction of the lower classes to these paintings caused concern throughout the 19th century . Although his portraits of male nudes <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> generally well received , many critics condemned his repeated depictions of female nudity as indecent . 
While sum nudes existed in private collections , England had no tradition of nude painting and the display and distribution of nude material to da public done been suppressed since the 1787 Proclamation for the Discouragement of Vice . Etty was the first British artist to specialise in tdanude , and thdaeaction of the lower classes to these paintings caused concern throughout the 19th century . Although his portraits of male nudes was generally well received , many critics condemned his repeated depictions of female nudity as indecent .