Interestingly, Venus is a goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, which is significant, since she was literally created from the male genitalia, and males were more strongly linked to sexuality than females, even at that point in Roman history. In the rest of Roman and Greek mythology, Venus/Aphrodite generally plays a benevolent role, though she does use influence women to use their sexuality in inappropriate ways, such as the willful seduction of one's own father. Botticelli's painting captures all of the prettier elements of the birth of Venus without referencing the uglier parts of the myth. There are no castrated gods or vengeful sons in the painting, merely a beautiful, naked woman emerging from the sea, standing grown in a sea shell. The sea shell symbolized the vulva in art of that time period. Moreover, Venus was a frequent non-religious subject of paintings, because it was considered acceptable to depict her nude and sensuous, which was not possible in many other types of painting. What is unclear is who the three other figures in the painting are. To Venus' right is an angel, holding a woman. They are clearly not people in the myth, and one is not certain who they are. To Venus' left is a woman ready to drape her in modest attire. That woman is interesting because she is clothed as women were in Botticelli's time, and may...
It seems that Botticelli is attempting to showcase the natural and beautiful sexuality of the feminine, and demonstrate how society has reacted to that sexuality as a threatening force. He accomplishes this goal, because his Venus is so beautiful that few people notice the artistic quirks that mar her appearance, such as her unnatural-looking left arm or her oddly-long neck.
In his attempt to paint the goddess, the Renaissance painter inspired from the mythological legend of Venus's birth. The Roman Goddess of love apparently emerged out of the sea as a result of a foam formed around Uranus's genitals that had just been cut by his son, Cronus. Cronus apparently did so in order to get revenge, since his father treated him very cruelly (Deimling 52). Botticelli focused on emphasizing
The function of the work of art would be to stand before the city, and to show the city as wisdom personified, and by implication show that the wisdom came from the works and power of the Medici. It would make an analogy between the city-state of Florence and the ancient city-state of Athens. Because Athens was a genuine republic, it might even deflect some criticism from the Medicis, who
The Renaissance was more than a "re-birth," it was something new and exciting - the ideas and outlooks represented by Titian and the leading lights of his time have continued to shape Western Civilization and the world, helping to create a culture in which we are all - "open-minded and free to take up quarters in an open world." Meyer-Abich) It is for these reasons and others that Venus and Adonis
The dress is refined, but oversized and ill-fitting as befits a young boy. Here too, an Americanism is no doubt being added. Rather than make Henry Pelham appear too formal, as the scion of some great house in a European portrait, Copley reminds us that his subject is quite young and probably wearing hand-me-downs, or else some cost-saving garment into which he will eventually grow. It is a budding
Cast in the Khasa Malla Kingdom of the western Himalayas made of gilt copper alloy with inlay and is a superb example of Newar artistry without the elaborate embellishments. The historical Buddha is seated in the lotus or meditation posture (vajrasana) with one hand resting in the lap and the other in a gesture that calls the earth to witness his great resolve. Earrings inlaid with turquoise adorn the
Venus in Art Introduction to Venus and Aphrodite: Throughout history, Venus has long been a source of inspiration for artists. Her representation of love and beauty has been captured in various mediums, from the visual arts of paintings and sculpture to music and drama; Venus has served as a universal symbol of beauty and has embodied the secrets of love. Central to understanding how artists have been able to use her as
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