Venus Victrix
1914
Auguste Renoir
The nude goddess Venus holds an apple in her right hand. She was given this golden apple by the Trojan youth Paris. In a beauty contest, he had to choose which goddess was the most beautiful: Hera, Athena or Venus. In exchange for victory, Venus promised Paris the most beautiful woman in the world. This was Helen, but by kidnapping her, Paris caused the Trojan war.
Details
- Plan number: D020
- Zone: Open-air depot
- Title: Venus Victrix (Venus Victorious)
- Creator: Auguste Renoir , Richard Guino
- Date: 1914
- Material: bronze
- Acquisition: purchase, 1951
- Object number: MID.B.007
It is worth noting that Renoir did not make this Venus himself. His hands were virtually paralyzed due to a form of rheumatism. It was the young sculptor Richard Guino who created the sculpture at Renoir’s direction. One of Renoir’s favorite models, Marie Dupuis, served as the model for Venus. Renoir made sketches to capture his vision of the movement of the drapery and the expression of the head. For him, the work had first and foremost to appear vivid and natural.
French artist Auguste Renoir is best known as a painter, but around 1907 the old master became interested in sculpture. He was then 66 years old. Severely constrained by rheumatism, he worked closely with French-Catalan sculptor Richard Guino until 1918. Renoir’s sculptures lean toward classical Greek sculpture rather than the impressionist style of his paintings.
This artwork on the map
Easily navigate to Venus Victrix by Auguste Renoir and add it to your planned route.