The Rokeby Venus. One of the most widely reproduced images in the world is examined in the second of two films on famous works of art. The Rokeby Venus was painted by Diego Velazquez , court painter to the King of Spain in the 17th century. Described as one of the most erotic paintings ever created, it shows the back view of a woman looking at her reflection in a mirror being held by Cupid. Once forbidden by the Spanish Inquisition, and slashed seven times by a militant suffragette in 1914, today the painting is frequently imitated and admired.
Producer Mick Gold ; Executive producer Jeremy Bugler Repeated with sign language on Tuesday at 2.40am on BBC1 BBC BOOK: The Private Life of a Masterpiece by Monica Bohm-Duchen is available in hardback from retailersorwww.bbcshop.com, price £24.99