"From the beginning of the 16th century onwards, the nude grew into one of the most appealing subjects in Netherlandish painting....However, their popularity notwithstanding, representations of
the nude were under scrutiny and met with resistance form spokesmen of the official moral, and from at least part of the broader population." This quote is from the introduction to a
fascinating collection of 12 contributed essays that explore studio practice and beholder fantasy, dissemination of ideal male anatomy in Northern Europe, nudity on stage, theological views,
nude representations in the Brussels domestic setting, and the Rubensian nude in the face of censorship, among other topics. The volume was sponsored by a Belgian research foundation with which
editor Katlijne Van der Stigheden (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is affiliated; she and two other editors (affiliations not stated) shaped this presentation. B&w illustrations support the
text. There is no subject index. The volume is distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
