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HELP PARSING

17 picture left by artist: “sex”.

I have “portrait” but can’t fully parse. I get that it’s a picture, and “it” is sometimes Cyclops answer for “sex”, but that doesn’t feel enough.

26 plucky type starts to hold arse really tight, by the sound of it.

Similarly I have “harpist” which is plucky type but can’t parse the remainder of the clue.

Hi Josh,

Left = PORT (On a ship)
Artist = RA (Royal Academy)
Sex = IT

left = port
artist = ra
+ it as you say

Harpist - h + a + r (1st letters) pist sounds like p****d = really tight

26 h(old) + a(rse) + r(eally) + pissed ( tight)

26 - Starts to (initial letters) H(old) + A(rse) + R(eally) then PIST a homophone/"by the sound of it" of pissed/"tight".

Thanks for all the replies!
“Pissed” for “really tight” is a new one on me….

Tight, as drunk.

Last clue, 25D
Boss who gets plenty of sex? 4
S_U_

I’m thinking stud, though I’m not wholly convinced. Any thoughts?

Yes, STUD

double definition with a horse at "stud" getting plenty of sex and, obviously, also a boss.

PS. Chambers gives "stud" as boss, knob or pin in addition to the animal at stud.