Why Victorian censors hid this Roman sculpture from public view
Explore the history of 'The Secretum', an 1865 catalogue of objects deemed too morally dangerous for display. This video follows curator Vicky Donundellan as she examines how cataloguing reflects the shifting values of those in power.
In 1865, the British Museum maintained a registry known as ‘The Secretum’ for items considered unsuitable for the public eye. Most of these objects were sexual in nature, including a Roman sculpture depicting a nymph and a satyr involved in an attempted sexual assault.
By tracing the history of this specific piece since its rediscovery 250 years ago, the video reveals that cataloguing is rarely an objective science. Instead, records serve as a mirror for the perceptions and cultural values of the era's curators and administrators.
Source: This Roman Sculpture is NOT on display at the British Museum (currently) | Curator's Corner S9 Ep7
