Capitoline Venus in the Capitoline Museum, Rome

based on the prototype model of the Cnidian Aphrodite by Praxiteles
From an original by Praxiteles (4th century BC)
slightly larger than life size





The Cabinet of Venus, a special room for this very famous statue

According to the official guide, this marble sculpture was found near the Basilica of San Vitale around 1667-1670. Acquired by Pope Benedict XIV, it was donated to the Capitoline collections. Because many versions of this Venus type exist, dating is complicated. This may, however, be one of the first of about a hundred replicas.

The pose is the so-called Pudica Venus, a modest pose in which the nude Venus covers her breasts and pubic area. She is depicted as emerging from her bath, with drapery on the prop beside her (obviously needed for stability as well as the narrative implications). The contrapposto stance adds to the sensuous curves of the work while the tilted head to the left also adds gracefulness.
 

Other views
 
 
Although her face seems pretty expressionless, her hairstyle is complex, featuring lanks of hair in hoops and in a bow tied at the top of her head.
 


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© 2006 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.