Erotic Art History: I Modi
This months erotic art history lesson isn’t about an artist, but an art book. It’s called I Modi (The Ways) and it depicts sixteen explicit sexual positions and it was done up in 1524 by engraver Marcantonio Raimondi. According to legend, he based this book on the works that painter Giulio Romano was doing as a commission for Federico II Gonzaga, who was the ruler of the Italian city Mantua during the 1500’s.  When the book was printed the church swooped in and arrested Raimondi and destroyed all copies of the I Modi. In 1527 it was reprinted, this time with sonnets written by Pietro Aretino making it the first time erotic art and literature where combined. But, just as before the church came and destroyed all copies it could find and Raimondi was once again arrested (although was able to escape).
Even though the originals where taken, fragments of the original (or possibly a full copy) because during 1550 a crude wood cut version was printed in Venice. Since then another version of the I Modi showed up in the 18th Century and when compared to to the fragments that exist of the originals, the poses and composition match in almost every respect. This new version used a classical guise to hide it from those that might want to destroy this version too. The lovers where those found in classic history and mythology making it what I would like to think as one of the first erotic fan service book ever.
The pictures I’ve gathered here are from this version or at least re-created from those versions. Unfortunately, I’m unsure of the artist was that did them up. Enjoy ^_^
Play Asia
April 24th, 2012 at 10:53 am
This is amazing to me. That someone at that time (given the political environment) had the guts to make such a book, bravo. Did you find anything about Raimondi’s life after he escaped? Wonder what other types of works he produced.
May 1st, 2012 at 7:51 pm
The I Modi was done late in his career. Apparently a few years after this the Sack of Rome took place and he ended up in poverty. Looks like this was the only thing like this that he did.
April 24th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Those are some pretty husky women in those pictures. Is that what they call ‘reubenesque’?
May 1st, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Yes… I beleive it is. ^_^