Patricia Lee Rubin Livres

Focusing on the often-overlooked male backside in Renaissance art, this book explores its evolving significance beyond phallic masculinity and patriarchal themes. It delves into how depictions of the male rear have transitioned from base imagery to high art, while also considering homoerotic undertones associated with viewing male figures from behind. By addressing the range of connotations—obscene, comical, or villainous—this work offers a nuanced understanding of the male buttocks motif, highlighting both its continuity and transformation in artistic representation.

Accompanying a major international exhibition, this catalogue features outstanding portraits in a variety of media, and provides a comprehensive study of Italy's great age of portraiture