Erotic helplessness : a study of the history of the Damsel in Distress theme in art

[coldturkey]

Since @ducon007 posted an image of ancient war captives, I thought I might continue down the processing chain with this painting of a Slave for Sale by José Jiménez Aranda (1897). The greek inscription reads : "Rose, 18 years old, on sale for 800 coins"

 

[coldturkey]

And this drawing by Fortunino Matania (used on the cover of 1958 book by Daniel P. Mannix, Those about to Die), of a female martyr about to be quartered, properly attired in her flower costume. I love her gaze, how she seems almost to pity her future tormentors...

 

[coldturkey]

And this painting, A Scene of the Inquisition, of a beauty stripped for her torture, by Víctor Manzano y Mejorada (1859). I cropped the top to save some file space...

 

[coldturkey]

And to round up today's quota, why not this very explicit drawing of Joan of Arc being raped despite attempting to protect herself in a knight's armour, from a 1982 curiosa illustrating Voltaire's cycle of poems The Maid of Orléans ?

 

[montycrusto]

And to round up today's quota, why not this very explicit drawing of Joan of Arc being raped despite attempting to protect herself in a knight's armour, from a 1982 curiosa illustrating Voltaire's cycle of poems The Maid of Orléans ?

Surprisingly long hair for Joan of Arc!

 

[coldturkey]

Surprisingly long hair for Joan of Arc!

Indeed, but one cannot ravish a tomboy

 

[montycrusto]

Indeed, but one cannot ravish a tomboy

Hmm.. I wouldn’t mind testing that assertion..

Meanwhile, what’s the difference between Noah’s Ark and Joan of Arc?

One’s made of wood, and the other’s Maid of Orléans

 

[ducon007]

Some bronze statues representing either the abduction of Europa or Lygia on the bull (in "Quo Vadis").
#1 by Hussmann
#2 by Cinque
#3 by Debut
I don't known for #4 and 5

 

[coldturkey]

Hmm.. I wouldn’t mind testing that assertion..

Meanwhile, what’s the difference between Noah’s Ark and Joan of Arc?

One’s made of wood, and the other’s Maid of Orléans

One's waterproof, the other's fireproof...

 

[coldturkey]

Some bronze statues representing either the abduction of Europa or Lygia on the bull (in "Quo Vadis").
#1 by Hussmann
#2 by Cinque
#3 by Debut
I don't known for #4 and 5


View attachment 1280287View attachment 1280288View attachment 1280289View attachment 1280290View attachment 1280291

And I thought I saw Obelix and Falbala !
Beautiful statues !

 

[coldturkey]

She seems more interested in his bum than their impending fiery doom.

In such moments it is important to cling to some comfort...

 

[coldturkey]

St Regina had the curious habit of taking baths in the middle of the street.

Surely detrimental to her health !

 

[tan2000]

Some bronze statues representing either the abduction of Europa or Lygia on the bull (in "Quo Vadis").

Aah this one ring my bell of another Lygia on the bull statue with different pose of her, still tied naked on the bull.

 

[coldturkey]

Thanks for your contribution @tan2000 ! Always nice to see Lygia bouncing on the bull
I was wondering @Wragg and @melissa, have the moderators come to any conclusion regarding child nudity in fine art ?

 

[coldturkey]

These unknown Smit / Topfer drawings (not even sure they belong to the same book). Source says they are dated 1914, but according to Biblio Curiosa, Gaston Smit was not active until 1919....
The captions read : "The second guard tore out the belt from the skirt". "Naïada heard the whistling of the leather serpent".

 

[coldturkey]

And to conclude today's quota, Évariste Vital Luminais (1821-1896), Norman Pirates in the 9th Century

 

[ducon007]

The famous fresco in the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii. Part once interpreted as a flogging scene. Would rather represent an initiatory dance. A chef-d'oeuvre, however, that deserves to be shown here!

 

[coldturkey]

The famous fresco in the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii. Part once interpreted as a flogging scene. Would rather represent an initiatory dance. A chef-d'oeuvre, however, that deserves to be shown here!


View attachment 1280611

Beautiful chef-d'oeuvre ! DiD frescoes from Antiquity are a rare treasure.... Perhaps the initiatory dance is encouraged by the whip ?

 

[ducon007]

Beautiful chef-d'oeuvre ! DiD frescoes from Antiquity are a rare treasure.... Perhaps the initiatory dance is encouraged by the whip ?

And while you are in Pompeii, take the opportunity to visit the lupanar and choose your favourite position on its walls!

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Thanks for your contribution @tan2000 ! Always nice to see Lygia bouncing on the bull
I was wondering @Wragg and @melissa, have the moderators come to any conclusion regarding child nudity in fine art ?

I'm sure that none of the moderators are too concerned about the presence of a baby in a fine art painting. However, the problem of children in pics was a recurring one. Were they an oversight? were they put there deliberately? The days of Lewis Carroll taking erotic photographs of Alice and nude ones of her sister are long gone. Today he would probably be in prison.
To simplify matters I.M. introduced the "no minors" depicted anywhere on the site rule some years ago and that is the rule we have stuck to.