Torso of Aphrodite, Roman copy of the Venus Genetrix type

1st century CE

Greek, Artist Roman, Artist

On View

Ancient Greek and Roman, Level 2, South Wing

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About the Artwork

Toward the end of the fifth century BCE, a famous Greek statue of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was created, probably to decorate a temple in Athens. It was such a popular image that it was later copied many times. The type became known throughout the Greco-Roman world and was associated with the Roman goddess Venus. In more complete examples, Aphrodite is shown holding the apple awarded her in the contest among goddesses when she was judged the most beautiful. Female nudity was not sanctioned in art until later in Greek history but artists discovered a way to reveal aspects of feminine grace. Aphrodite’s garments cling to her body, outline and emphasize contours, creating the illusion of female beauty at its most sensuous.

Title Torso of Aphrodite, Roman copy of the Venus Genetrix type

Artwork Date 1st century CE

Makers (Artist) Greek (Artist) Roman

Medium Marble

Dimensions Overall: 58 × 25 × 17 1/4 inches (147.3 × 63.5 × 43.8 cm) Including base: 63 × 24 × 24 inches (160 × 61 × 61 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department Greco-Roman and Ancient European

Credit Founders Society Purchase with funds from Cristina and Henry Ford II

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 74.53

Markings

Inscriptions ------

Provenance

(Jeannette Brun)

1974-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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Published References

Bulletin of the DIA 53, no. 2 (1974): p. 53.

Peck, William H. "A New Aphrodite in Detroit." Bulletin of the DIA 54, no. 3 (1976): pp. 124–132, front cover (ill.), 124 (ill.).

Henshaw, Julia P., ed. 100 Masterworks from the Detroit Institute of Arts. New York, 1985, pp. 30–31 (ill.).

Henshaw, Julia, ed. A Visitors Guide: The Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1995, p. 117 (ill.).

Brinke, M. "Die Aphrodite Louvre-Neapel," Antike Plastik no. 25(1996): pp.7-64, pl. 1-50.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Roman; after Greek, Torso of Aphrodite, Roman copy of the Venus Genetrix type, 1st century CE, marble. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase with funds from Cristina and Henry Ford II, 74.53.