Explore the Scandalous Secrets of the Met on This Tour

Scandalous Secrets of the Metropolitan, a walking tour of the Met, is another way for teens, parents, and adults to view art. 

Discover the mischievous backstories behind some of the best works of art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side through a unique new tour. Presented by Shady Ladies Tours, Scandalous Secrets of the Metropolitan begins July 29th and takes place Saturdays through mid-August (if the tours sell out, more are expected to be added).

The walking tour of the Met, recommended for ages 15 and older, will be led by Professor Andrew Lear, a leading scholar on the history of sexuality and an expert on erotic art. Lear, the founder of Shady Ladies Tours, will explain how artists use hidden meanings to express sex and sexuality in their work. Guests will also learn about the sexual restrictions of ancient Greece and how the Renaissance used art as a foundation for ethical teaching, erotic imagery, and more.

“Throughout the centuries, artists used sly suggestions and concealed codes to sneak around societal rules,” said Professor Lear in a press release by Shady Ladies Tours. “Many artists risked their careers by depicting scandalous themes. Broken eggs symbolized lost virginity, lutes stood in for a man's desires, and a lady’s slack shoulder strap suggested adultery. The Metropolitan is a treasure house of such works. If we know how to look at them, they tell us much about sex, desire, and what it means to be human.”