Object Description
A very fine, ancient Roman, cast bronze statuette of Venus Genetrix. The goddess is depicted standing frontally, with her head slightly angled to the right. She stands with her right leg slightly bent, whilst her left leg remain straight and weight-bearing. This pose is known as ‘contrapposto’ and it created certain angles within the body. The diagonal of her knees counterbalanced the diagonals of her hips and shoulders and created an ‘s’ shape throughout the body. Venus is dressed in a ‘chiton’, draped loosely around her shoulders and décolletage; the slack material exposing her right breast. She clasps part of the robe in her left hand, which hangs by her side. The lifting of material exposed her feet at the base of the statue. Attention has been paid to the wet-look drapery of her gown and the folds of the material, especially where it gathers across her lower legs. The style of her clothing is a specific attribute of Venus Genetrix; the original Roman bronze statue by the Athenian sculptor Callimachus was similarly dressed and styled. The elegance of Venus’s clothing is echoed in her carefully styled hair, which has been formed into a chignon at the back of her neck with loose curls draped across both shoulders. Nestled in her hair is a crescentic diadem. Her right arm extends out and she clasps an apple within her fingers. The statuette has been mounted on a custom-made modern bronze stand. A custom-made display box also comes with the piece; made from leather.
The measurements listed below include the stand. Without the stand, the figure measures H 19.8cm x W 9.9cm. Within the display box the figure measures H 30.4cm x W 19.1cm x D 13.5cm. The weight of the statue and bronze mount is 1173.1g.
Date: Circa 1st – 2nd century AD