Decency Collection

The Torn Bouquet, c. 1795. Creator: Antoine Jean Duclos
The Torn Bouquet, c. 1795

Comic postcard, Woman in bikini and beach inspector Date: 20th century

WW2 Victory, Liberation of Czechoslovakia, postal cover envelope Date: 1945

Hemline Regulations
A female swimmer having the hemline of her bathing costume inspected at Palm Beach. Date: circa 1925

Statue of the Capitoline Venus, detail (marble)
2562032 Statue of the Capitoline Venus, detail (marble) by Roman; Musei Capitolini, Rome, Italy; (add.info.: After the original by Praxiteles of the 4th century BC); Photo © Stefano Baldini

Statue of the Capitoline Venus, detail (marble)
2561958 Statue of the Capitoline Venus, detail (marble) by Roman; Musei Capitolini, Rome, Italy; (add.info.: After the original by Praxiteles of the 4th century BC); Photo © Stefano Baldini

Frontispiece to The English Gentleman and English Gentlewoman
XJF384065 Frontispiece to The English Gentleman and English Gentlewoman by Richard Braithwaite, 1641 (engraving) by Marshall

Measuring bathing suits, c. 1922 (b / w photo)
872445 Measuring bathing suits, c.1922 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American, out of copyright

Lady Godivas Rout - or - Peeping Tom Spying out Pope Joan
BAL42843 Lady Godivas Rout - or - Peeping Tom Spying out Pope Joan, 1796 (hand-coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); O Shea Gallery, London

A hastily commissioned artist conceals the female form beneath an ink bikini on the TVR stand at the 1971 Motor Show, after the company was told that all picture must be made decent. 21st October 1971

THE THREE MORAL GRACES
THE THREE GRACES There is no Grace without Decency, and there is no Decency without a Veil Date: 18th century

POLISH SHORT SKIRT
A Polish girl takes refuge in a Warsaw church when an indignant crowd attack her because her skirt is too short for decency Date: 1929

Ladies buy your leaf!, c1822. A close-up view of the lower part of the Achilles statue in Hyde Park. Women stand below holding garments to drape over the fig leaf

The Trew Origin of Trousers by W. Heath Robinson
The First Blush - or the Dawn of the sense of propriety. Heath Robinson imagines that trousers were invented when decency dictated that the legs of Stonehenge be covered up to spare the blushes of

After the Battle by Matania, 1914
Imaginary scene from the early months of the First World War when the British Expeditionary Force were fighting the Germans in the open

The Continence of Scipio (237-183 BC) (oil on canvas)
XIR26555 The Continence of Scipio (237-183 BC) (oil on canvas) by Pittoni, Giovanni Battista (1687-1767); 56x96 cm; Louvre, Paris

The canteen or the dive - in the name of decency and common

Harem trousers replace the hobble skirt
From fetters to freedom: the hygienic harem replaces the horrible hobble skirt. Four radical designs from New York and Paris

Namibia - Adaptation to Western Costume
A very interesting card produced by the German Catholic Mission to Namibia, showing the before and after result of the adoption of a western style of clothing to the native populace

Then - And Now by Leslie Marchant
Four cartoons comparing how a young Victorian woman would be watched while sea bathing (by several stout and stern chaperones) to the modern girl of 1925, who breezes to the beach on her motorcycle

Myth / the Three Graces
THE THREE GRACES There is no Grace without Decency, and there is no Decency without a Veil

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"Decency: A Timeless Virtue Embodied in History and Art" In a world often marred by chaos and conflict, decency emerges as a beacon of hope, reminding us of our shared humanity, and is seen in the triumphs that shaped our past, like the hard-fought victory of World War II and the liberation of Czechoslovakia. These moments remind us that they are prevail even in the darkest times. But decency goes beyond battles won; it permeates every aspect of society. From hemline regulations dictating modesty to statues like the Capitoline Venus, its essence is captured through art's timeless beauty. The intricate details carved into marble tell stories of grace and dignity, inspiring generations to uphold these values. Yet, as time progresses, so do societal norms. Comic postcards from the 20th century depict women donning bikinis while being inspected at beaches—a reminder that notions evolve with each passing era. Measuring bathing suits in black-and-white photographs from 1922 reflects an ongoing dialogue about what is deemed appropriate attire. However, amidst changing customs and cultural shifts lies a constant need for respectability. Lady Godiva's legendary ride or Peeping Tom spying on Pope Joan may seem scandalous today but were once moral tales meant to teach lessons about virtue and impropriety. The concept extends beyond individual actions; it encompasses societal expectations too. Frontispieces depicting "The English Gentleman" and "English Gentlewoman" highlight codes of conduct upheld by different eras—guiding individuals towards honorable behavior within their respective communities. As we navigate this ever-changing landscape, let us not forget the importance of preserving integrity and morality—the three moral graces guiding our interactions with others. Just as Polish short skirts challenged conventions at one point in history, they serve as reminders that progress should never come at the expense of basic human respect.