Boys Peeping at Nature 1782

Richard Livesay’s “Boys Peeping at Nature” is a satirical print from 1782. It depicts four boys, one of whom is drawing, and another is attempting to pull the drapery from a statue. The artist, an engraver, is satirizing the social climate surrounding artistic education and the influence of classical art in London. The Latin inscription reads, "It is necessary to show the more recently hidden things, and modesty is taken in the greatest license," hinting at the theme of obscenity and impropriety that permeates the artwork. The print is an example of English satire, a genre that was popular during the 18th century. The piece is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.