Venus and Adonis
Statue
about 1810 (made)
about 1810 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This small study shows Venus trying to persuade her lover, Adonis, not to go hunting for fear that he might be killed (as indeed he was). Venus, the Roman goddess of love and fertility and mother of Cupid, fell in love with Adonis after being accidently grazed by Cupid's arrow.
It may have been executed soon after Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) returned to England from Rome, where he spent eight years from 1762 to 1770, working with Bartolomeo Cavaceppi restoring and copying antique marbles. One of his copies, the group of Castor and Pollux, is in the Museum's collection (Museum no. A.59-1940).
He probably perfected his modelling of clay while he was in Rome and started to experiment in making small figures or groups. These occasionally became models for large-scale finished marbles, but many, still in his studio at his death, were simply studies in their own right, which he called pensieri (thoughts).
It may have been executed soon after Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) returned to England from Rome, where he spent eight years from 1762 to 1770, working with Bartolomeo Cavaceppi restoring and copying antique marbles. One of his copies, the group of Castor and Pollux, is in the Museum's collection (Museum no. A.59-1940).
He probably perfected his modelling of clay while he was in Rome and started to experiment in making small figures or groups. These occasionally became models for large-scale finished marbles, but many, still in his studio at his death, were simply studies in their own right, which he called pensieri (thoughts).
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Venus and Adonis (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Terracotta |
Brief description | Group, sketch model, terracotta, Venus and Adonis, by Joseph Nollekens, England, ca. 1810 |
Physical description | Venus and Adonis, terracotta sketch model. Venus, partly draped and half kneeling, embraces Adonis who turns away and repels her with his left hand; his right hand is raised before his face. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | 7. Joseph Nollekens 1737–1823
Venus and Adonis
About 1810
Nollekens may have made this terracotta soon after his return to England. It shows Venus trying to persuade her lover Adonis not to go hunting, for fear that he might be killed.
London
Terracotta
Museum no. A.6-1944
Given by Miss Zoë Gordon Smith |
Credit line | Given by Miss Zoë Gordon Smith |
Object history | Given by Miss Zoë Gordon-Smith in 1944. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This small study shows Venus trying to persuade her lover, Adonis, not to go hunting for fear that he might be killed (as indeed he was). Venus, the Roman goddess of love and fertility and mother of Cupid, fell in love with Adonis after being accidently grazed by Cupid's arrow. It may have been executed soon after Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) returned to England from Rome, where he spent eight years from 1762 to 1770, working with Bartolomeo Cavaceppi restoring and copying antique marbles. One of his copies, the group of Castor and Pollux, is in the Museum's collection (Museum no. A.59-1940). He probably perfected his modelling of clay while he was in Rome and started to experiment in making small figures or groups. These occasionally became models for large-scale finished marbles, but many, still in his studio at his death, were simply studies in their own right, which he called pensieri (thoughts). |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.6-1944 |
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Record created | August 14, 2006 |
Record URL |
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