Object Description
A Fine Carved Alabaster Group of The Birth of Venus, On Pedestal.
Modelled with Venus standing in an open oyster shell holding the hand of a nymph seated at her feet. On a veined alabaster pedestal.
Italy, Circa 1900.
The Birth of Venus depicts the moment described by the Roman poet Ovid when, having emerged from the sea in a shell, Venus lands at Paphos in Cyprus. Venus, or Aphrodite in Greek mythology, wears a pearl neckless which are said to be the tears of joy shed by the goddess of love. Venus is accompanied by a young woman, who is sometimes identified as one of the Graces or as the Hora of spring.
The inspiration is the Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli completed about 1485 for the Medici family, for which the pose of Venus was inspired by Helonistic sculpture collected by Lorenzo the magnificent. The present depiction of the birth of Venus is also Florentine in origin and a uniquely nineteenth century rendering of the subject, showing the influence of the emergent Art Nouveau style. It is attributable to the Florence workshops, such as those of Antonio Frilli, Raffaello Romanelli or Pietro Conti, who supplied romantic sculpture to an international cliental of fin de siècle grand tourists.