Egypt, Romano-Egyptian, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. Skillfully cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process, a leaded bronze statue of Venus (Greek Aphrodite), the goddess of love and beauty, and her son Cupid (Greek Eros), the god of sexual desire, love, and attraction - both standing upon a spool-shaped pedestal. The goddess is nude and presents with a curvaceous figure. She stands in contrapposto with her left knee bent and her weight shifted, while her arms are raised as she playfully arranges her tresses. Her beautiful visage presents with delicate features and is framed by her centrally-parted wavy coiffure which is adorned by a diadem. The winged, nude Cupid below and to Venus' right looks up at the goddess, presenting her with an apple in his outstretched left hand - a reference to the Judgement of Paris and Venus' reward for winning the legendary beauty contest between she Juno (Hera) and Minerva (Athena). Size: Venus measures 5.375" H (13.7 cm); 7" H (17.8 cm) on pedestal.
Cupid (Eros) was the mischievous yet endearing god of love, a minion, constant companion, and according to some classical writers, a son of the goddess Venus (Aphrodite). In the Roman period, Cupid had become a child (to the earlier Greeks, he was a muscular youth). Here he retains his mischievous air, ready to help couples fall in love through not-entirely-innocent interventions with the fruit of the vine.
Venus presents with ample, curvaceous proportions - some might call her Zaftig - an indication of an earlier dating than the classical Roman period. For instance, Praxiteles' infamous "Aphrodite of Knidos" (ca. 360-330 BCE) possesses a soft belly and several dimples on her back. What's more, the anatomy of the "Lely's Venus" (ca. 100 to 199 CE) also displays voluptuous folds and rolls. Venus/Aphrodite was the Goddess of Love and beauty and her shapely form was the ideal phenotype for women of the time.
Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World , vol. IV (1985), no. 282.
On loan to Ohio State University; Picker Art Gallery, Colgate University; Fitchburg Art Museum from 1986 to 2016.
Provenance: private M.K. collection, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, USA, acquired from Royal-Athena in July 1986 - Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World , vol. IV (1985), no. 282.
On loan to Ohio State University; Picker Art Gallery, Colgate University; Fitchburg Art Museum from 1986 to 2016.
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#158233
Condition
Figures reattached to original pedestal. Both the figures and pedestal base present with green and russet patina with areas of encrustation that have developed over the ages. Old collection number handwritten on underside of pedestal.