The Birth Of Venus

Alexandre Cabanel • Painting, 1863, 130×225 cm
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About the artwork
Art form: Painting
Subject and objects: Mythological scene
Style of art: Academism
Technique: Oil
Materials: Canvas
Date of creation: 1863
Size: 130×225 cm
Artwork in selections: 44 selections

Description of the artwork «The Birth Of Venus»

"The Birth Of Venus" Emperor Louis Napoleon Bonaparte saw at the Paris Salon in 1863 and came from the picture so excited that he bought it for personal collection.

Before us is a luxurious, gorgeous female body, stretched on the sea waves. Of Venus circling the plump little angels. The picture became the "nail" exposure. The success was deafening. Flawless, radiant, so that there seems to be a glossy naked body, emphasized the erotic pose, sensual images – all this was sweet to the public and was adopted with enthusiasm. Still, it is a wonderful body belongs to the goddess.
Interestingly, in the same year, Manet wrote his "Olympia" that on its face far less voluptuous than the stretching in the waves of Venus. But it's obvious that Cabanela we are talking about high matters! That and the title of the painting tells, and the story, and angels flying around (if someone requires a particularly compelling argument). But the girl mane not only as a client, whether spent, or waiting. Debauchery and filth.

Favorite painter of Napoleon III was of Cabanel. "The birth of Venus" – a vivid example of what's called salon painting. Perfect body, mythological story, a gentle, though quite trivial coloring. These paintings were many, where such a success? No claim to truth in the last instance, suppose the case can be in high erotic intensity. Indeed, the mythological entourage represented a kind of carte Blanche any degree of eroticism: the gods and heroes of myths! The audience reaction in advance, receives absolution – tea, not on the girl's lustful gaze with desire, and goddess admire.

The internal evolution in the film we are unlikely to track. The "birth" theoretically, according to the sea foam from which the goddess was. But, frankly, without much damage Venus could be moved to a froth of lace on the bed. She looks like lying on the waves, not born of them. However, doing so is not worth it, not the fact that such a "modest and moral public" would forgive even recognized salon master.

In 1875, the year of Cabanel created a smaller version of his "Venus" now she lives in new York, the Metropolitan Museum of art.

Author: Alain Esaulova
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