Today, October 25th, is National Fine Art Appreciation Day! 

Today has been set aside to recognize and appreciate great works of art over the past millennium. So, Union Suit Fan too wishes to recognize three of the most beautiful, iconic masterpieces admired the world over: David, Le Penseur and Discobolus.

You'll instantly recognize the following sculptures, perhaps exclaiming, "wait a minute, these guys are wearing union suits!  What the..."  

Why are these three normally nude iconic works of art appearing, as we Union Suit Fans might imagine them, in their long underwear?! Retro Jeff suggested this post as an interesting way to spoof it up for this recognized day of great art. After we've had fun at the expense of Myron, Michelangelo, and Rodin, you may wish to take a moment to study and admire these three world famous works from Ancient Greece through the Renaissance and to more modern times at the end of the parody.

None of these art works were harmed in the creation this post.

 

  

   

With cold weather coming this fall all over the world, these three wonders of the art world have been outfitted in union suits, enjoying the comfort and warmth of good ole long underwear! Why not? 

Thanks to Peter and Retro Jeff for clothing them in the imaginative A.I. garb....just for fun.

With a nod to art purists, here are the true masterpieces sans union suits:

  Biblical David by Michelangelo, 1501-1504, an Italian Renaissance Sculpture made of Carrara Marble. The Galleria dell'Accademia  (Accademia Gallery), Florence Italy, holds Michelangelo’s original David.

Location: , Florence, Italy. Height: 5.17 metres (17 ft 0 in). Placed in the public square, fronting Piazza della Signoria, David was first shown there on September 8, 1504.

 

Le Penseur (The Thinker) by Auguste Rodin is actually a bronze sculpture of a nude in deep concentration. This statue is widely recognized as one of the world's great art representations. Le Penseur is an icon of philosophical contemplation. The original cast is now on display outside in the courtyard of the Musée Rodin in Paris and is 72 cm in height. The sculpture was originally exhibited in 1888 at 72 cm in height being enlarged in 1904 to life size. 

  

It's original name was "The Poet" and it was originally conceived in 1880 to be displayed in Roden's "Gates of Hell" work and represented Dante Alighieri. of The Divine Comedy for the doorway of the Paris Museum.

Ancient Discobolus (Discus Thrower) by Myron is a remarkable 2000 year old Greek sculpture, created 460-450 BC. It is of a discus throwing athlete originally cast in bronze. He exists only as "Roman copies"  as Myron's original no longer exists. Others displayed around the world are marble or smaller bronze copies.  

 

This picture is "The Discobolus Palombara," from the 1st century, believed to be the first Roman copy. This sculpture was discovered in 1781 on property owned by the Massimo family. It was restored by Giuseppe Angelini who believed it to be a copy of Myron's original, and today is on display at the National Roman Museum, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme. Numerous sculputures are found around the world in varying positions of this athlete. 

All ancient Greek athletes participated in the nude according to modern day scholars.