Robert Mapplethorpe, 'Italian Devil', 1988

"Italian Devil", by one of the 20th century's most influential photographers, the American Robert Mapplethorpe. Oct. 2007 is the 10th anniversary of the seizing of a book of Mapplethorpe's work from the University of Central England, Birmingham, by West Midlands Police. The UCE vice chancellor threatened with prosecution under the Obscene Publications Act if the book were not destroyed. The university stood its ground and six months later the book was returned and no charges were laid. A detailed account of the fiasco now appears to be only available with a direct link to the UCE's archives: http://web.archive.org/web/20060823022442/www.uc...