Venus seated on a shell
Inkstand
probably early 17th century (made)
probably early 17th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This statuette is intended to be used as an inkstand and represents Venus seated on a shell. It is probably from the 17th century made in the Netherlands.
Venus the Roman goddess of love and fertility, was the mother of Cupid, the god of Love. Venus is seated in the shell still wet, referring to her birth from the sea.
Venus the Roman goddess of love and fertility, was the mother of Cupid, the god of Love. Venus is seated in the shell still wet, referring to her birth from the sea.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Title | Venus seated on a shell (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Inkstand / statuette, Venus seated on a shell, Netherlands, probably 17th century |
| Physical description | This is an inkstand. The goddess Venus, naked, is seated on a thin cushion with tassels at the corners, her legs crossed, wringing out her hair with both hands and looking away. The shell is a huge conch, the upper part cast seperately and fastened with a ring-hinge and hook as the cover of a receptacle for ink. The flat base is ribbed to represent sand. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Historical context | As use for Inkstand |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This statuette is intended to be used as an inkstand and represents Venus seated on a shell. It is probably from the 17th century made in the Netherlands. Venus the Roman goddess of love and fertility, was the mother of Cupid, the god of Love. Venus is seated in the shell still wet, referring to her birth from the sea. |
| Bibliographic reference | '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. 14 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.154:1-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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