Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History
2011, English. Directed by Rosie Schellenberg.
Stephen Smith uncovers the secret history of the humble fig leaf, opening a window onto 2,000 years of Western art and ethics. He tells how the work of Michelangelo, known to his contemporaries as 'the maker of pork things', fuelled the infamous 'fig leaf campaign', the greatest cover-up in art history; how Bernini turned censorship into a new form of erotica by replacing the fig leaf with the slipping gauze; and how the ingenious machinations of Rodin brought nudity back to the public eye. In telling this story, Smith turns many of our deepest prejudices upside down, showing how the Victorians had a far more sophisticated and mature attitude to sexuality than we do today. He ends with an impassioned plea for the widespread return of the fig leaf to redeem modern art from cheap sensation and innuendo.
- Runtime
- 0h 59m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
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Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 10 February 2011.
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Details
- Released
- 10 February 2011
- Written by
- Stephen Smith
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Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History: quick answers
Is Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History worth watching?
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How long is Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History?
Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History runs 59 minutes (0h 59m).
Does Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History yet.
Which OTT platform is Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History on?
Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 10 February 2011. (Checked 13 November 2026.)
What movies are like Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History?
If you liked Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History, try Ex Libris: The New York Public Library, The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button, Seduced and Abandoned.
Who directed Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History?
Fig Leaf: The Biggest Cover-Up in History (2011) was directed by Rosie Schellenberg and stars Stephen Smith.