Classicist Mary Beard peeks behind the fig leaf to find the truth behind the nude in art.

Stream Shock of the Nude on BBC Select

We wipe our internet browsing histories to spare our blushes, yet admire a nude in an art gallery without the blink of an eye. But, asks classicist Mary Beard, is it really the ennobling effects of great art that sees us queuing up for famous nudes from Aphrodite to Michaelangelo’s David?

Watch Shock of The Nude and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.

Shock of The Nude on BBC Select

Gleefully, Beard strips away our lofty claims to reveal the truth behind our obsession with the body in art.

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