The female nude is a timeless subject of high art, and for many represents the epitome of earthly beauty. This work is a replica of an 1863 painting by the same artist, which was originally shown at the Salon, and created a huge sensation. That particular Salon is known today as the "Salon of the Venuses" because so many paintings of the goddess were exhibited. The original (near identical) painting established Cabanel's reputation, and it was later purchased by Napoleon III for his personal collection. This work was one of the numerous replicas that the artist created after the orignal, and was commissioned in 1875 by the American banker John Wolfe.
Firstly, for the unity paintings were often rejected from the Salon for being too distasteful or indecent, but this work was celebrated for being such a clearly academic painting. It's polished surface finish, careful modeling and mythological subject contribute to making this work one of beauty, rather than being overtly sexual.The viewer has power and ownership of Venus’ sexuality.
Second, for the proportion the painting itself depicts a nude woman, a theme frequently visited in other paintings of the Romanticism movement, sprawled across a calm ocean underneath many angels, depicted as children.Her breasts are fully exposed and her arms are away from the body as not to block its view. Instead of using her hand, her knees are slightly bent as to hide her pubis in shame.
Lastly, for the space the Birth of Venus we immediately notice the nude female figure in the center of the work. Cabanel took as his subject a famous episode from classical mythology when Venus is born of sea-foam and carried ashore.For Cabanel, the mythological theme is indeed a pretext for the portrayal of a nude figure, which,is nonetheless depicted in a lascivious pose. This painting scene in which a naked woman was sitting between two clothed men, whilst another woman in shift could be in seen the background, made the public indignant. At the official Salon, another female nude was however received in triumph.
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