Is the VMS a work of female authors ?

[Koen G]

There's always the old fig leaf or some fabulously floating flit of fabric to provide the essential coverage. Of course, that isn't *always* the case, but it does predominate.

I feel like this is especially common after the Middle Ages. But what often happens in medieval images is that they simply don't draw the genitals, even if they would be visible. Or they'll draw a line, even for male figures. Constellation images are a good source to see a range of options. Here is Hercules (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.):

   

They knew Hercules was a male figure, but this was just one way to draw the nether regions if they didn't want to go full phallus.