The ancient Greeks were totally unabashed about the human body, the original Olympic Games were performed nude at one point. The spread of Christianity changed all that. Neither Orthodox Judaism nor Islam get a mention herein, but one such religion is enough.
We all know the story of the fig leaf, which need not be a literal fig leaf nor even a real world object, but herein presenter Stephen Smith concentrates largely on real fig leafs rather than metaphorical ones. Yeah, fig leafs; fig leaves doesn't sound right.
He visits Rome - where else? - and ends up in London. Rome appears to have been the place the fig leafing of public works of art started. Michelangelo's famous statute of David was of course erected in Florence. If you knew that, you probably didn't know it was pelted with stones when it was unveiled. Fortunately it appears to have avoided serious damage at least. Not mentioned here is the fact that the original was moved indoors in 1910 and that two copies can be found outside in the city.
In London, the fig leafing of statues began with the erection of the first public nude. Yes, we must use that word. What Smith doesn't mention is that some statues were not simply fig leafed but castrated, though not at the behest of Queen Victoria we are told here, one of several myths about our second greatest Queen.
He ends by visiting a couple of artists who are odd, as artists tend to be, though one makes the point that while artistic nudity is frowned upon, nudity and especially sex is all around us all the time. As Joni Mitchell said, sex sells. So, curiously, does prudery.
We all know the story of the fig leaf, which need not be a literal fig leaf nor even a real world object, but herein presenter Stephen Smith concentrates largely on real fig leafs rather than metaphorical ones. Yeah, fig leafs; fig leaves doesn't sound right.
He visits Rome - where else? - and ends up in London. Rome appears to have been the place the fig leafing of public works of art started. Michelangelo's famous statute of David was of course erected in Florence. If you knew that, you probably didn't know it was pelted with stones when it was unveiled. Fortunately it appears to have avoided serious damage at least. Not mentioned here is the fact that the original was moved indoors in 1910 and that two copies can be found outside in the city.
In London, the fig leafing of statues began with the erection of the first public nude. Yes, we must use that word. What Smith doesn't mention is that some statues were not simply fig leafed but castrated, though not at the behest of Queen Victoria we are told here, one of several myths about our second greatest Queen.
He ends by visiting a couple of artists who are odd, as artists tend to be, though one makes the point that while artistic nudity is frowned upon, nudity and especially sex is all around us all the time. As Joni Mitchell said, sex sells. So, curiously, does prudery.
