Baroque : Rokeby Venus

Baroque : Rokeby Venus

        Rokeby Venus or Venus at Her Mirror is Baroque style in c.1647-1651. This is the only surviving example of a female nude by Diego Valazquez. The subject was rare in Spain because it met with the disapproval of the Church is reasons of religious scruple, the female nude was rarely represented in Spanish art.

        Firstly, proportion of painting has size 122 cm height and 177 cm width. The unity of painting, the very genesis may have been an act of reflection. The suggestion has been made that it was designed as a harmonious contrast to a nude Venus. The paining is shown nude back of Venus on her bed with her son Cupid, who holds up a mirror for her to look both at herself and at the viewer. The painting is oil technique and mythological painting.

        Secondary, similarity and contrast, only the presence of the plumply and innocently deferential Cupid transforms her into a goddess. The painter has moulded her body with infinitely scrupulous and tender gradations of color, white, pink, grey and muted black and red, and the grey-black satin which reflects on her luminous skin itself shimmers with pearly reflections of flesh-tones. Streaks of pink, white and grey loop in ribbons around the ebony frame of the mirror. Even more astonishing is the single brushstroke, laden with black paint, tracing the line that runs beneath her body from the middle of the back to below her calf. Both the exact notation of appearance and such free and spontaneous touches are the fruit of lengthy meditation and practice.

        Thirdly, emphasis of the painting is known as 'The Rokeby Venus' because it was in the Morritt Collection at Rokeby Park. Venus, the goddess of Love, was the most beautiful of the goddesses, and was regarded as a personification of female beauty. The paining is shown nude back of Venus with her son Cupid, who holds up a mirror for her to look both at herself and at the viewer. 

        Lastly, in Baroque period has more logic within their thinking on artwork than the past. This painting has more reality color and texture like a natural life rather than the past. Moreover it has clear shade and shadow, so this period has play lighting in painting. The Venus in this painting is very beautiful shape although just see only her back and glimmers of her face in the mirror by oil technique.   

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Renaissance : The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)

                  

Renaissance : The Birth of Venus

        The Birth of venus is probably Botticelli's most famous painting tempera on canvas in the Renaissance period around c.1486 at Uffizi, Florence. Art historians who specialize in the Italian Renaissance have found a Neoplatonic interpretation, which was most clearly articulated by Ernst Gombrich, to be the most enduring way to understand the painting. Botticelli represented the Neoplatonic idea of divine love in the form of a nude Venus.

        Firstly, proportion of painting has dimensions 172.5 cm height and 278.5 cm width. The Venus has nude and beautiful women appearance. Unity of Venus has standing composition on the shell that float on the water in the center of painting, so round of her have Zephyrus, God of winds, he carries with him the gentle breeze Aura and together they blow the Goddess of Love ashore. The Horae, Goddess of the Seasons, waits to receive Venus and spreads out a flower covered robe in readiness for the Love Goddess arrival. that felt their minds lifted to the realm of divine love.

        

        Secondary, similarity and contrast of this painting has reality color and described the attitude of venus in Christianity way. The Venus is the main gravity to describe that has position in the center of painting and minor gravity is round of her to expand that has position in the right of painting is Goddess of love and in thee left of painting is God of wind. So the painting is fine art and balance of image that arranged  to describe the meaning of painting. Texture of painting has sea wave and feeling of wind that makes the clothes, flowers, wrap and their hair has waft moving.  

        Thirdly, emphasis of painting has the Venus is standing on the shell that floating on the water is the main distinctive point and minor are her right side is the god of wind and her left side has the goddess of love receive her ashore. Venus had two aspects, she was an earthly goddess who aroused humans to physical love or she was a heavenly goddess who inspired intellectual love in them. That there might be other ways to interpret Botticelli's mythological paintings. In particular, both Primavera and Birth of Venus have been seen as wedding paintings that suggest appropriate behaviors for brides and grooms. The Madonna whose purity is represented by the nude Venus. Once draped in earthly garments she becomes a personification of the Christian Church which offers a spiritual transport back to the pure love of eternal salvation. The sea brings forth Venus just as the Virgin gives birth to the ultimate symbol of love, Christ.

        Lastly, in Renaissance period shown the women has very long hair, more soft waft moving and more feeling in emotion in the painting than Medieval period and the past. The painting has describe to connect each point nicely that is easy to look, so it starts from the left to the right with the Venus in the center proceeds. The sea brings forth Venus just as the Virgin gives birth to the ultimate symbol of love, Christ. That shows the imaginary about the religion of Christianity that they still believe in. This period has thought about the composition in artwork and started the perspective and layers of foreground, middle ground and back ground but this painting has unclear in perspective to looking.  

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Medieval : Virgin Hodegetria

       

Medieval : Virgin Hodegetria

        The Venus in Medieval period is hardly to find a research and I choose statue follows a very widespread painting type that called the Virgin Hodegetria. Place of origin of the statue is Istanbul, Turkey and made in late 10th century to early 11th century. Statuary in the round is almost unknown in Byzantine Art, that this is the sole surviving.

        Firstly, proportion of this statue has dimensions 32.7 cm height, 9.2 cm width, 5.2 cm depth and 1.28 kg weight. That is small and easy to move. In unity the Virgin holds Christ in her right hand while making a gesture toward him, indicating that he is the way to salvation. The Virgin's gesture makes her our guide to salvation and explains the appellation. Christ appears in a chiton and himation, while holding a rituals  attributes of a classical philosopher that were adopted from Hellenistic art. Christ is represented not as an infant, but rather as the Logos, the eternal Word. The carving emphasises the elongated proportions of the figures and is overall restrained and refined.

        Secondary, similarity and contrast of the Mother of God Hedegetria is ivory figure that carved in the round. The Virgin Mary is important religious figures because she is standing and holding her son as Christ's Mother, so their movement look like about love, anxious and edification. Texture and technique of ivory statue was crack because of carving and period of time. This sculpture is smaller than Ancient Greek and Roman.

        Thirdly, emphasis of this statue historical significance that the Virgin and Child was an especially popular subject for Byzantine artists. These representations were invariably in relief, either on a large scale in marble or in smaller versions ivory, metalwork or semi precious stones. Most artwork of the Virgin stress her role as Christ's Mother, showing her standing and holding her son. So this sculpture means Mary in Jesus Christ of Christianity. The Virgin Mary, known as the Theotokos in Greek terminology, was central to Byzantine spirituality as one of its most important religious figures. Although the statuette is the only known Byzantine ivory sculpture carved entirely in the round, it is closely related to a small group of Virgin and Child ivory reliefs in Utrecht, liege, Hamburg and New York, which originally formed the centres of triptychs. 

        Lastly, in Medieval period has shown they believed in Christianity and their clothes style to wear. The statue has action and feeling like love between mother and her son. The development is feeling and made for religion, love and anxious to learn the edification and pray. This venus is mother rather than the beauty of women body shape. And distinctive point is her son that describe the religion way of Christianity.  

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Roman : The Venus of Capua

Roman : The Venus of Capua

        In this period  has many beautiful Venus in sculpture. I choose the Venus of capua that is in Roman, A.D. 117-138 and was discovered at the amphitheater in Capua, in Southern Italy. Venus becomes symbolize Rome's imperial power and this is one of the best sculpture known as Aphrodite "VENUS DE CAPUA" that roman copy from Greek statue on C4th BC.

        Firstly, Similarity and Contrast of Venus of Capua is statuary type representing a semi-naked Aphrodite. She has more texture with line in details of muscle, hair and wrap rather than Greek preferably her movement. So movement of venus looks interesting in described free-standing attitude, with her head turned to the left  and her arms extended in the same direction, an with her foot resting on a helmet. The way in which her arms and hands are extended to the left side, that she could have been holding the shield of her lover, therefore It is a suggestion. Her The figure is the wrap was undraped to the hip, and she is the Victrix type. When we focus in her hands and her legs its seem like her delicate dance pleasure sacrifice for love and peace.

        Secondary, unity significantly, perhaps the skin around figure body covering from marble material, so that is main material. It completely represented strengrth of hardness. Answering why venus was appeal symbolize and strengthened unity of powerful that she is the Victrix type. Technique for making this sculpture was neatly. Proportion of Venus is 87 inch high or height 2.04 metres scale relative to human life size. She is perfect harmony of form and proportion. So emphasis of Venus was familiarly companion with love and beauty goddess and over all image made venus particular to the roman goddess. In Roman religion, Venus have more matronly character than Aphrodite, and empresses were regularly identified with her. Denoting wifely virtues of fertility and decency, Venus's figure types were used for portrait sculpture of both imperial and citizen women in roman. 

            

         Lastly, in Roman period have more soft feeling than the past. The Meaning of statue of venus is goddess of love that I impress about aesthetic act of this sculptures. its look fascinating different from the other venus statues. These speculations are perhaps showing proportion of this figure general style but this period style is not much different in details with Ancient Greek in human scale, so Roman has emulated from Ancient Greek and just have more soft movement details for meaningful in art work.      

The Venus of Capua

                          The Lovatelli Venus                                    The Mazarin Venus                                                      
Compare and Conformity with other Venus such as The Lovatelli Venus and The Mazarin Venus

         In similarity and contrast: They have the body are statuary type representing a semi-naked Aphrodite. Also they have a warp to overlay the suspension that is same part of statue and they are goddess of love. The materials of them is same that made from marble, their texture of their hair are resemble. In the movement, they have different in composition and attitude and 2 of Venus in the lower picture that have added the supporting character meaning of them. The Lovatelli Venus has a little women under her left arm and holding wrap on left hand. The Mazarin Venus has a dolphin at her left side too but she holding warp 2 hands. The Venus of Capua is not holding warp and free hands moving. And only the Lovatelli Venus has color in warp, that it is gold.

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Mesopotamia : Burney Relief

 

Mesopotamia : Burney Relief

        In Mesopotamia couldn't found the art work of Venus but they had made some sculpture that has women shape on artwork. I choose the Burney Relief that has known as the Queen of the Night relief that is terra-cotta plaque is made of baked straw-tempered clay in Old Badylonian, around 1800-1750 BC in Mesopotamia period from southern Iraq. A likely representation of either Ereshkigal or Ishtar in body of artwork.

        Firstly, proportion of
this plaque has female is half man and half bird and nude in the middle and animals on background. She wears the accessories of women that have necklace, bracelets both of hands and  horned headdress characteristic of a Mesopotamian deity. She holds a rod and ring of justice, symbols of her divinity. Her long multi-coloured wings hang downwards, indicating that she is a goddess of the Underworld. In human body, she has more curve shape of women than prehistory. The plaque probably stood in a shrine. The figure had made from clay that measures 49.5 cm in height, 37 cm in width and 4.8 in thickness. 

        Secondary, balance of the relief sculpture has looked symmetry balance within standing on prey and she raises her hands up and holds wands or rod and ring of justice. So That showed they have believe in god and first time has impartiality within artwork.

        Thirdly, Similarity and Contrast of Venus this statue has pattern and rhythm on her wings. Her hands are similar that she hold the wands of god. Her legs end in the talons of a bird of prey, similar to those of the two owls that flank her. The background was originally painted black, suggesting that she was associated with the night. She stands on the backs of two lions, and a scale pattern indicates mountains. And on the ground has same pattern of wing in the texture of line but it's mirror together. But some part of artwork was damaged over time.

        Lastly, emphasis.The figure could be an aspect of the goddess Ishtar, Mesopotamian goddess of sexual love and war, or Ishtar's sister and rival, the goddess Ereshkigal who ruled over the Underworld, or the demoness Lilitu, known in the Bible as Lilith.So it means they have dominance in belief that they believe in power of god in nature and phenomenon, they respected  to the star and river simultaneously they believe something within reason and impartiality. Concisely in this period, there design show them began believe in power of god that feel like a fairy tales about between sexual love and war. They thought about half man and half animal be their goddess within tradition.So this period has more details and belief than prehistory.
                                               

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Prehistoric : The Venus of Willendorf

                 

Prehistoric :  Venus of Willendorf
        Venus is the word that has been associated with artwork, most specifically from beautiful women. In the Palaeolithic era, Venus has Indicated female sculptures.The most famous and dominant Venus in prehistory is Venus of Willendorf That she was found in 1908 in Austria and she is dated 30,000 and 25,000 BC. This Venus is exposed without a face but she is presented with details on her head, torso to toe that has featured their well-being and tradition.     

        Secondary, balance of this Venus is symmetry balance with scale of composition within standing. Her figure have one head, two for the breasts, two for arms, torso of body, two for thighs and two for legs. She is a round women, standing with her arms resting on her breasts and belly, her bowed head hiding her face but showing off elaborate hair.The round shape is disproportion  and fatter that other period. 

        Firstly, proportion of this Venus has diminutive size to convey within hands and  she measures 11 cm in height. The figurine was carved from oolitic limestone and has colored with red ochre.  Apart from being female, the statue has an enlarged stomach and breasts, its public area is greatly emphasized, probably serving as a representative of procreativity, and the red ochre pigment covering it has been thought to symbolize or serve as menstrual blood seen as a life giving agent. Her body has circular shape and apart from being female has feeling like abstract in human scale, so that has shown about abundance in that time.         

        Thirdly, Similarity and Contrast of this Venus has similar figurines which show similar characteristics, such as the exaggerated proportion of the breasts and body, that has a pattern and rhythm in circular shape. A head totally covered with basketry, and the similar full figure with the head almost covered in similar texture that is a pattern and rhythm.         
    
        Lastly, emphasis of this Venus  is an important icon of prehistory. Archeologists have suggested many different ways of understanding its significance for the nomadic society which made it. The first suggestion is that it was a "Venus figure" or "Goddess" used as a symbol of fertility.  It shows design a woman with a large stomach that overhangs but does not hide her pubic area and no face. A roll of fat extends around her middle, joining with large but rather flat buttocks, so that means it's showing that time has richness and abundantly owing to they have full nature resource and their culture and tradition. The suggestion is made Venus figure. Synopsis of this period, there has not emphasized with a design for aesthetic yet. She looks abstract in human scale and it doesn't have more details on head and face. And they began has a belief in god and luck within well-being and tradition.

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Ancient Egypt : Karomama

                                 

                                 

 Ancient Egypt : Karomama

        In Ancient Egypt doesn't have a Venus but they has more female in artwork That I choose statue of Karomama, the Divine Andoratrice of Amun in third intermediate period, 22nd dynasty, 945-715 BC. Karomama is Great Gods wife of Amun or called high priestess of Amun and she depicted in a walking pose, shaking sistrums (now missing). She was a Divine Adoratrice, a virgin and earthly spouse of the god Amun, who was worshiped at Karnak. She held the status of a queen, and is portrayed in a robe encircled by vulture wings. A tall crown once fitted into the round headdress adorned with a uranus. Actually she was the granddaughter of King Osorkan high priestess of Amun that's one of the beautiful Egyptian statues.

     

        Firstly, proportion of sculpture has beautiful configuration of female. She is height 59.5cm, width 35cm and diameter 12.5cm. The slender proportions of figure embody a charming femininity. The face, however, has a severe expression, with inlaid eyes, aquiline noise, and small, delicately shaped mouth. Karomama wears a long pleated dress and  a short Nubian style wig with a uranus on her brow. Her modius is by fairly large vulture whose out stretched wings seem to protect a crowned cobra. A tall crown once fitted into the round headdress adorned with a uranus. A uranus must have decorated the front of wig but  was broken off. Her hand are held  out in front of her and it looks as though they would have grasped something . She wears an elaborate dress which is made to resemble wings encircling her body. This statue was dedicated by this exceptional bronze object with multiple inlays.     

        Secondary, similarity and contrast. She has walking composition on inscription hieroglyphics because she once carried in her hands would have immediately identified her as a priestess rather than princess.The main body of this statue was cast in bronze and subsequently with a thin sheathing of bronze, which was then exquisitely engraved with patterns inlaid with gold, silver, and electrum. Her color is red, green, gold and black. These created colourful effects, although some are now missing. Gold leaf was also used to highlight different sections of the body, such as the wig with finely incise curls. A magnificent eight-tiered collar remains; it includes alternating rows of geometric and plant designs: rosettes, lotus petals, checkerboards, and spirals. The alloys used for the different inlets created nuances and various surface patina, which are no longer visible, given the condition of the work. On her body has inlay with line and includes alternating rows of geometric and plant designs pattern with the bird wings surround her cloth. That looks she has power in tradition and doctrine. So they had thought in design, material, shape and texture like female in human scale more than in the past and this period just have a cloth on artwork and consider to cumulative beauty.

        Lastly, emphasis in a statue of Karomama held the status of a queen, and is portrayed in a robe encircled by vulture wings or drawing of the bird wings that surround her and accentuate the fullness of her figure. A tall crown once fitted into the round headdress adorned with a uranus. That has shown they believe to respect to star and belief in religion that they need to make the sculpture to endure so they indicated and noted their culture and tradition in sculpture design. This sculpture is famous for the sophisticated production technique used. The statue was created with the lost-wax bronze casting process and features complicated metal inlays, various copper alloys gold, and silver. These have an affect on statue to created colorful effects, although some part are now missing and damage by over time. Concisely in this period, their design have more details like a female in human scale especially tracery on her head and body in line.They began to made statue within action like this sculpture has standing composition like pacing and holding something in hands and has cloth in design within geometric and plants. And that shows they consider to cumulative beauty rather than the past.

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