CS25

Venus

General Description: This is one of a pair of plasters along with Mercury bought by Rogers. In Greek mythology Venus was the daughter of Jupiter and Dione. She was the goddess of love and married to Vulcan, god of the forge, but also lover of Mars the god of war. Venus was associated with the arrival of spring and the bringer of happiness. The sculptor made these models in plaster in preparation for the final versions in marble that would become famous and are now in the Louvre Museum in Paris. He made the statue of Mercury to join the Royal Academy in France. The king loved it so much that he ordered another larger version as a gift for the King of Prussia. These plaster models were once in the collection of French sculptor Louis-François Roubiliac (1702-1762) who worked in England. (, )

, 1725 c - 1775 c

18th century (mid)

Named Collection: Cottonian Collection