Thomas Eakins, born in Philadelphia in 1844, is recognized as one of the great artists of the United States. He was also an arts teacher who got into trouble for using nude male models for his lessons.
He was forced to resign from the Pennsylvania Academy for using life models, encouraging his students to paint the body of men, which he thought were as aesthetic and graceful as those of women. The students who supported him left the Academy and created the Art Students League of Philadelphia, in which they continued to paint with male models.
Eakins was also a pioneer of art photography. He created portraits in movement, which exalted the body of men.
Although he was never clear about his sexuality, his work is considered to be a landmark in art history, as well as an important precedent of gay and queer art
