 William Etty ( 10 March 1787 – 13 November 1849 ) was an English artist best known for his history paintings containing nude figures . He was the first significant British painter of nudes and still lifes . Born in York , he left school at the age of 12 to become an apprentice printer in Hull . He completed his apprenticeship seven years later and moved to London , where in 1807 he joined the Royal Academy Schools . There he studied under Thomas Lawrence and trained by copying works by other artists . Etty earned respect at the Royal Academy of Arts for his ability to paint realistic flesh tones , but had little commercial or critical success in his early years in London . 
