Bertel Thorvaldsen. 1813-16. Thorvaldsens Museum
It is the innocent, chaste Venus the viewer sees when standing in front of Thorvaldsen’s statue. The virginal grace befitting a goddess is beautifully represented, while the sculpture is devoid of human passion.
The rhythm of the sculpture is atypical in relation to its counterparts in ancient classical statues with their harmonious S-shaped movement in which the body is in balance. In Thorvaldsen’s Venus, the body is more uncertain – tensed in a curve like a reverse D – and the balance is only partly re-established by the goddess’ glance, which is directed to the apple.
The central form of the apple is underlined not only by the glance, but also by the rounding of the head and the naked breasts.
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