Not currently on display at the V&A

Venus Pudica

Statuette
19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Italy (made)

This statuette is a crude modern copy of a model popular in the 16th century which probably derives from a documented statuette by the Mantuan bronzist Antico, of which no original example appears to have survived. The bronze has been given a spurious antiquity by mounting it on a genuine 16th century candlestick base.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Myths & Legends
Object type
Statuette
Titles
  • Venus Pudica (generic title)
  • Venus with a mirror (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Statuette, bronze, depicting Venus Pudica with a mirror, adapted from an antique prototype, Italy, 19th century
Physical description
Bronze statuette of Venus with a mirror. Naked standing figure of the type of the 'pudic Aphrodite', but with a small mirror in her right hand into which she is looking.
Dimensions
  • Excluding base height: 26cm
  • Including base height: 32cm
Credit line
Salting Bequest
Object history
From the Salting bequest.

Historical significance: A crude modern copy of a model popular in the 16th century which probably derives from a documented statuette by the Mantuan bronzist Antico, of which no original example appears to have survived. The bronze has been given a spurious antiquity by mounting on a genuine 16th century candlestick base.
Subjects depicted
Hand-Mirrors
Venus
Summary
This statuette is a crude modern copy of a model popular in the 16th century which probably derives from a documented statuette by the Mantuan bronzist Antico, of which no original example appears to have survived. The bronze has been given a spurious antiquity by mounting it on a genuine 16th century candlestick base.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 12
  • The Rival of Nature : Renaissance painting in its context, London : National Gallery, 1975 125
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.140-1910

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Record createdOctober 22, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106681/venus-pudica-statuette-unknown/
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