There is a general assumption that Victorians were prudes, which simply is not supported by the variety of art works they produced.

I used to work (oh wait, I still do, that was embarrassing) in the history section at Bardic Web, and I did a couple of Cliff Notes style…

There is a general assumption that Victorians were prudes, which simply is not supported by the variety of art works they produced.

This chap was a Victorian, right?

It is a shame that the history of the male nude is described almost exclusively as a…

The preconception that the Victorians had issues with the male nude is largely a reflection of contemporary prejudice against the Victorians.

Paul, did you read the links I provided? Or are you saying VictorianWeb.org is prejudiced against the Victorians?

Despite its mythological anchoring, Burne-Jones' depiction of a nude male was…

I heard the statues were originally painted to look lifelike and only through the decay of their society do we have the unpainted rawness and broken limbs etc.

You mean Greek statues? It's a very vexed question in art history, but I think it is generally accepted now that they…

Anyone know?

.This Lady often painted nudes as an example, of both sexes modelling.

Those are lovely. And the era in which she painted is pretty much where the male nudes in the exhibition reappear after their post-Renaissance absence.

This is, I think, the only time I've done a column like this…

I dunno, you see those nudie Greek and Roman statues in 3 dimensions; it is quite odd that an exhibition ostensibly…

Because he's not contrapposto at all: he's squared-off, balanced, vertically aligned, and tense. Where a viewer might expect, or desire, a corresponding tension and firmness at the centre of the image, it all just sort of... falls down, in a sweet humble little bundle of bathos.

Whereas what's so weirdly…

That was Winston Tringham and his wife – he was a lovely guy…

NSFNSW

Gold

The state of New South Wales is on track to remove the defence of artistic merit from the law, despite the fact that it has only been used twice in NSW history, both unsuccessfully.

That's going to make a lot of images NSFNSW.

Mika's picture looks odd to me not because it's a full frontal male nude but because the fake boobs are so unreal. That is part of the art I know but I guess it just doesn't strike a chord…

And that being the first link I've felt the need to label that way probably explains why it's not in this exhibition.

Not submissive in any way, but refusing to conform to a particular masculinity in order to do so.

Anyway, it isn't art. Art is what nice people look…

And that being the first link I've felt the need to label that way probably explains why it's not in this exhibition.

I understand it's also easier for a male
to be convicted (of public indecency?)
for being publicly naked than a woman.

The perils of the hung-jury system?

That's... any pictures of the Baby Jesus hanging in NSW art galleries?

I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a law change.

The state of New South Wales is on track to remove the defence of artistic merit from the law, despite the fact that it has only been used twice in NSW history, both unsuccessfully. Artistic groups are concerned about the chilling…

It bothers me that realistic female genitals are still so unacceptable in art. Is there something wrong with them?

Another question Australia has the answer to: yes.

According to theregister.co.uk the Aussies have been busy tackling the issue of art vs porn, specifically images of nude underaged people.

I have…

I wonder what exactly they were thinking when they got him to hold his stick (a gun?) like that.

A question for the ages. We've also spent some time pondering the implement – I'm going for hockey stick.

Appreciation of the male nude in earlier New Zealand photography is not unknown: for example, this 1916 portrait of the muscular Mr Garland

He is a muscular one... I wonder what exactly they were thinking when they got him to hold his stick (a gun?) like that.

unless you go all the way back to palaeolithic statuary

And who doesn't?

It bothers me that realistic female genitals are still so unacceptable in art.

Some of Miriam Saphira's art includes female genitalia (eg Take her fancy), but her art is not particularly realistic.

I understand it's also easier for a male to be convicted (of of public idencency?) for being publicly naked than a woman.

I recall reading of a case where a husband and wife walked naked down Queen St (Auck) in the late '70's or early '80's, and while both were…

It bothers me that realistic female genitals are still so unacceptable in art. Is there something wrong with them? I can think of a lot of examples of male genitalia in historical art,…

I once heard from someone (who was closely related to the artist, and claimed to have heard it from her) that the reason the figure with the parasol is so obscure and…

Funny, how do you discreetly view art at the public art gallery?

I believe a docent provides a paper bag with eye holes and an old mac at the door – the more fastidious may prefer to bring their own macs

So, were there any female genitals?

I'd hate to unequivocably say 'none', and then be proved wrong, but that was my impression. And no body hair. There was one sculpture that was as anatomically correct as a Barbie.

Anyone else look at that and see a woman texting in bed?

I do NOW. Well, waking up and reading her texts and trying to summon the energy to stumble as far as 'coffee'.

That's one painting that looks a great deal better in the flesh, so to speak. I…

It is my impression that society is rather uncomfortable with the genitals of either sex being portrayed in non-pornographic ways, and with female genitals being easier to hide, it is almost as if they do not exist.

No wonder there…

In contemporary terms, I'd say that a non young, non classically beautiful female naked body is as unacceptable as a classically beautiful male's naked body, if not more so.

Indeed. This is probably why I found Fiona Pardington's Proud Flesh (no pics online, unfortunately) so fascinating. Scarring, like ageing and…

the values and traits associated with them is quite different from what, say, this says about women. You'll note, however, still no genitalia.

Anyone else look at that and see a woman texting in bed?

Let's hope gay males don't buy those magazines and spoil the marketing.

"Perhaps it’s a Victorian thing: Renaissance art is full of beautiful naked men."

Hide the sausage (as it's known in technical artistic lingo) predates the Victorians, actually. It would be interesting to…

males clamouring to ogle at other males. Metrosexuality has only kicked off that trend, now resulting in "nude calendars" of sportsmen outselling all else.

Um... it didn't occur to you that perhaps SOME of those 'nude calendars' are selling to women?

Hoping to be able to get in touch with…