Erotica is a subtle art  In its most graphic form it can serve only  to abhor as it turns to pornography, yet there are nuances within the genre that cause the reader /observer  to find intrinsic beauty.

In its basic form it panders entirely to what is commonly known as the sexual appetite, a delightful titilation of the nerve endings that makes the blood race uncontrollably. In its more sublte form it energises the mind slowly , causing the observer  the reader, the voyeur to want almost unknowingly to return again and again to the subject matter.

It may be a phrase, a tasteful photograph, a painting albeit without graphic imagery or language that suggests delight at the form before one.

Neither does the photograph, the painting or the words need to be specifically lude in their presentation to excite the senses. In many cases for instance the term ' her breasts rather than  her tits' has a much more tender and erotic nuance.

A full frontal  butchers shop expose often turns what might be pure sensuous erotica into bland pornography. it is free choice of cause and the subject of another discussion that  I seperate entirely from this assessment. This assessment takes what  I personally believe to be the most erotic painting in Britsh art and examines those nuances. If  i offend the sensibility of some I intend not. This is an assessment on the subtle and gentile eroticism Millais created in this painting. 

The painting is inspired by the poem 'The Eve of St Agnes' by John keats, a 42 stanza work that celebrates the love of Madelaine and Porphyro.

such lines were never written easily without  a touch of erotica

 They told her how, upon St Agnes' Eve,
    Young virgins might have visions of delight,
    And soft adorings from their loves receive
    Upon the honey'd middle of the night,
    If ceremonies due they did aright;
    As, supperless to bed they must retire,
    And couch supine their beauties, lily white;
    Nor look behind, nor sideways, but require
Of Heaven with upward eyes for all that they desire

The painting is one of many that the pre Raphaelites painted but Millais painting with the sombre yellow light somehow increases the sense of boudoir surrender. Millais device of setting the young virginal bride before a huge bed into which she gazes with wondorus awe increases the sense of
Helplessness

Her gown and off the shoulder bodice themselves loosely fitted serve to accentuate the shape of her breasts. If you look closely she is gingerly almost resignedly unslipping the bow on her corset laces whilst the gentle light on her upper bosum serves to increase the impression of her virginity unspoiled ,unsullied, undefiled.

Millais was a perfectionist in figure painting and in this work he has captured the essence of a lovers surrender. Even  the way he has achieved the slightly blue highlight of the girls skin on her right shoulder. He  has further increased the beauty of the erotica by painting in the long flow of the girls luscious Auburn hair hanging loosely onto those shoulders.

Her hips are voluptuously displayed such that the overall impression is of a maiden drawn like a moth to the flame of her mans desire.

For that, is in essence what this painting displays. Very much a male dominance.

Doesnt her very demeanour say 'I am here my lord treat me with love' 
And her man  retains that air of mystery since Millais used the clever device of leaving to the observers imagination what sort of man lies in secluded shadows awaiting the arrival of his treasure.

Wilt thou love me gently sir
Of course I will for thou doth stir
The blood within me.
Come to me fair Madelaine
and I will make you mine

Observe, enjoy and imagine.