But they actually did. The arts of Raphael, Michaelangelo, and Da Vinci among other artists were inspired by the ancient Greek arts.
I don't think the crucifixion was sexual, but it was a form of humiliation too.
I'm uncomfortable with nudity in the Church's artistic tradition
Jordan Reed
Jacob Green
This wasn't a problem until the Puritans and Victorian age. Catholicism was always upfront with sex and the body and viewed it as holy things within marriage. The Puritans and the 60's sexual revolution is two sides of the same coin.
Not in the medieval ages. She was often depicted nursing Baby Jesus. Now, this kinda seems weird but its because we sexualize breasts too much. Back then everyone recognized breasts as tools for child feeding and only "sexy" within sex.
Here is an article and a bunch of images of Mary being depicted as a nursing mother:
fisheaters.com
If you have a problem with lust and sexualizing breasts too much, you can look at a few images and meditate on how God created breasts for child raising
William Scott
I'd say in Western art it's common.. and not sure it was done for any sacred reason (such as old paintings of St. Mary Magdalene… who never was a prostitute to begin with and just some weird belief in the West for some reason).
Jack Lee
presumably OP is talking about stuff like this
Nathan Roberts
...
David Hughes
This one?
nsf puritans
Jacob Martin
user I'm going to be honest with you
Other than the last one, those pictures look abhorrent.
Lucas Martin
Yeah, I'm sure the average teenager circa 1400 who walked by such a painting only got a boner from the woman who was "clothed like a prostitute". Totally wasn't interested in the beautiful naked woman.
Evan Bell