Wait, what? Pre-Raphaelite Millais painting included coded anti-masturbation message

wfgodot · Sep 11, 2012

Revealed: The secret message hidden in Pre-Raphaelite master's
painting warning prudish Victorians against sinful behaviour (Daily Mail)

Phallic image in John Everett Millais' 1848 painting Isabella
Painting shows phallus emerging from a man's groin
Image is a shadow made by the man holding a nutcracker
Shadow was included as a warning about masturbation, researchers say

story at the link

Better reproduction of painting in question.

Millais' most famous work, "Ophelia" (detail).

Kat · Sep 12, 2012

does the old woman have one too? She has a shadow in front of her also haha!

Donjeta · Sep 12, 2012

'That is really emphasised by the fact he is cracking a nut with the nutcracker,' Ms Smith said, 'and he has this rapier-like leg which, if you follow its line, points directly into the womb of Isabella.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ainting-warning-self-abuse.html#ixzz26FQzkH97

I thought he was about to kick the dog. The poor thing looks scared.

21merc7 · Sep 12, 2012

You had me at Pre-Raphaelite! I remember this from my independent art history studies. It is very fascinating to find that every painting is filled with a plethora symbolism from either the artist's point of view or that of the person purchasing the work. There is almost always an artist comment contained. Literally every tiny thing means something, every movement, and every chosen color.

Not sure that happens as often enough today unfortunately.

wfgodot · Sep 12, 2012

Wish I were there for this:

Pre-Raphaelites, Tate Britain exhibition: visions that tell us who we are (Telegraph)

Kitsch, old-hat and irrelevant? The Tates new blockbuster show sets out to prove that the Pre-Raphaelites hyper-real fantasies are anything but. Mark Hudson welcomes this timely reappraisal.

the story at the link above

Wait, what? Pre-Raphaelite Millais painting included coded anti-masturbation message

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