"Anmut" (Grace) by Arno Breker, 1937

"Frauenakt" (Nude Woman) by Josef Thorak, 1940 (sometimes also called "Hingebung" (Devotion) or "Stehende" (Standing)

Thorak himself featured in the Haus der Kunst exhibitions; this portrait by Fritz Erler, 1939.

Thorak working on one of his monumental sculptures for the decoration of the new autobahns.

A favorite theme for classical artists has been "Leda and the Swan." Paul Matthias Padua's sensual painting created a controversy at the 1938 exhibit, but Hitler ordered that it remain on display.

Josef Thorak's more subdued sculpture was featured in the 1942 annual art exhibit.

Another favored theme from antiquity was the "Judgment of Paris," in which the Trojan warrior Paris was commanded by Zeus to choose the comeliest goddess from among Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. Paris chose Aphrodite; his reward was the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, which led to the Trojan wars. This Thorak work "Das Urteil des Paris," designed as a fountain grouping, was one of the main features of the 1941 Haus der Kunst exhibition.

The three goddesses from Thorak's "Judgment of Paris"  --  Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera.  

Three more works by Josef Thorak. On the left is "Letzter Flug" (Last Flight), portraying a dead warrior's ascent into Valhalla (1942). In the center is "Zwei Menschen" (Two People, 1941), which Hitler felt portrayed a "healthy Nordic eros." On the right is "Das Licht" (The Light), 1944.

Arno Breker's works were also widely used to decorate government buildings. These two statues flanked the entrance to the New Reichs Chancellory in Berlin. On the left is "Die Partei" (1939) and on the right is "Die Wehrmacht" (1939). (Center photo from Das Bauen im neuen Reich by Gerdy Troost, Bayreuth, 1938 ed. (author's collection)

Military and government themes were favorites at all the exhibitions. On the left is "HJ-Trommler" (Hitler Jugend Drummer) by Anni Spetzler-ProЯchwitz, 1938; in the center is "Hoheitsadler" (National Eagle) by Hanns Goebl, 1941; on the right is "LMG-Schьtze" (Light Machinegun Gunner) by Bernd Hartmann-Wiedenbrьck, 1941.

Anton Grauel's "Liebende" (Lovers, 1942) was another example of what Hitler considered "healthy Nordic eroticism," as opposed to the "decadent" sensualism of the 1920s.

The theme was also displayed in Josef Thorak's "Francesca da Rimini" (1943).

"Bildnis einer jungen Frau" (Portrait of a Young Woman) by Herbert N. Lang, 1942

"Trдumende" (Dreaming) by Ernst ReiЯ-Schmidt, 1943

Some artists portrayed animals. On the left is Fritz Behn's "Adler" (Eagle), 1939; in the center is Emil Manz's "Tiger," 1938; on the right is Josef Thorak's "Pferd" (Horse), 1939. Two of Thorak's bronze horses graced the garden entrance to Hitler's Reichskanzlei in Berlin.

"Jugend" (Youth) by Fritz Klimsch, 1944

"In Wind und Sonne" (In Wind and Sun) by Fritz Klimsch, 1942

"Rцmisches Mдdchen" (Roman Girl) by Adolf Abel, 1941

Three heroic reliefs by Arno Breker:  "Der Wдchter" (The Guard, 1942), "Der Rдcher" (The Avenger, 1941), and "Kameraden" (1940)

Arno Breker The Guard.

Arno Breker The Warrior Departs.

Arno Breker-Sacrifice

Arno Breker-Predestination

Josef Thorak - Monument To Work.

Karl Albiker -Relay Runners

Arno Breker-Apollo and Daphne

Arno Breker-You and I

"Tanzende" (Dancing) by Rudolf A. Agricola, 1944

"Hannele" by Josef Thorak, 1943

"Weibliche Figur" (Female Figure) by Kurt Schmid-Ehmen, 1942

"Fahnentrдger" (Standard Bearer) by Josef Thorak, 1937

"Drachentцter" (Dragon Slayer) by Franz Josef Mikorey

Three themes from mythology: "Anadyomene" (Aphrodite), by Fritz Klimsch, 1941; "Galatea" (Sea Nymph), by Fritz Klimsch, 1939; and "Najade" (Water Nymph), by Paul Scheurle, 1943.

"Die Woge" (The Wave) by Fritz Klimsch (1942) showed the flowing grace of the female form.

Hitler admires "Die Woge" at the 1942 exhibit. To the right of Hitler are his adjutant Julius Schaub, and photographer Heinrich Hoffmann; to the left is Frau Prof. Gerdy Troost, widow of Prof. Paul Troost, designer of the Haus der Deutschen Kunst.

"Die Schauende" (The Looker) by Fritz Klimsch, 1937

"Die Schauende" still exists, as decoration on the terrace overlooking Lake Chiemsee in southern Bavaria, behind the U.S. Army Lake Hotel (formerly the Autobahn rest stop at Chiemsee).

"Hoheitszeichentrдgerin" (National Insignia Bearer) by Kurt Schmid-Ehmen

"Sommer" by Adolf Wamper, 1941

"Psyche" by Arno Breker, 1941

"Kameradschaft" (Comradeship) by Josef Thorak, 1937 (a version of this work was featured at the German House in the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris).

"Bereitschaft" (Readiness) by Arno Breker, 1939

"Danzinger Freiheitsdenkmal" (Danzig Freedom Monument) by Josef Thorak, 1943

"Frauenstatue" by Oswald Hofmann, 1939

"Die Morgenrцte" (Morning Blush) by Robert Ullmann, 1943

"Schreitende" (Striding) by Arno Breker, 1943

"Diana" by Jakob Wilhelm Fehrle, 1941

"Sommertag" (Summer Day) by Fritz Klimsch, 1938

"Junges Weib" (Young Woman) by Georg Kolbe, 1938

"Erwachen" (Awakening) by Paul Scheurle, 1944

"Feierlicher Tanz" (Festive Dance) by Wilhelm Tank, 1938

"Kniende" (Kneeling) by Arno Breker, 1942 (also called "Meditation")

Bust of Hitler, by Ferdinand Liebermann, 1937

Bust of Field Marshall Rommel, by
Fritz Berberich, 1943