Venus: Roman Sculpture Replicating The Greek Aphrodite

Venus is a Roman sculpture replicating the Greek Aphrodite that dates back to 1st century C.E. and is currently on exhibit at Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Venus is a three-dimensional marble, free-standing sculpture of the Roman Goddess. Her torso is nude and there is a piece of drapery tied around her waist, concealing the lower half of her body. Due to prior damage, the sculpture is currently missing both of her arms and head. The Goddess Venus symbolizes beauty and femininity, which is apparent in the gracious and sensual form in which the sculptor portrayed her. Venus is standing upright and is identifiable as a female due to the curves forming small breasts on her torso. Her torso becomes narrow at the waist and curves out to form fully defined female hips. There is a hunch in her back that forms a crease along the middle of her stomach right above her bellybutton, while the lower part of her stomach appears to be a bit rounded. Her shoulder blades are intact, but her entire left arm and the …show more content…
The piece of cloth is tied at the center of her waist in a thick knot where the ruffles sprawl past her feet to the bottom of the sculpture. The ruffles are very detailed and have many different layers to them. There are also folds and creases wrapping around the entirety of the drapery. The weight of her body falls on her left leg which is standing straight. Her right knee is bent and is visible through the drapery, her body possibly turning slightly towards the focal point that would be in her missing right hand. Her right foot is raised, more noticeable from the back end of the sculpture where the drapery falls over the outline of her foot. There appears to be some sort of movement or action being depicted in her body language. This is noticeable due to the bend in her leg, her raised arm and the multifold of ruffles created in the