patinated bronze
height 16 cm with base
inscription: Venus
Venus, goddess of love and beauty surprised while bathing. She seems to be trying to shield her nakedness with her hand, and turns her head away in embarrassment.
The composition is reminiscent of ancient depictions of Venus, and the bronze cast presented here is most similar to a sculpture from the Vatican Museums dating from around 200 BC-100 BC. This version differs from the others in the positioning of the goddess' fingers, which are extended and do not touch her left shoulder. This delicate detail can be interpreted as an expression of a moment of pause - a moment between concealment and unveiling. This is an example of sculptural innovation that, although subtle, significantly affects the perception of the work, allowing the viewer to see in Venus the figure of not only a goddess, but also a woman.
