Aug 17, 2009
Aug 17, 2009
Jan 26, 2004
Jan 26, 2004
Aug 18, 2009
May 4, 2004
Aug 17, 2009
Jan 26, 2004
Aug 18, 2009

Aphrodite Torso

Aphrodite Torso

2nd-1st Century BC

Thasian marble

Overall: 66.3 x 36.2 cm (26 1/8 x 14 1/4 in.)

Weight: 90.718 kg (200 lbs.)

John L. Severance Fund 1988.9

Location

Did you know?

This torso is based on the Aphrodite of Knidos, a Greek original by the master sculptor Praxiteles.

Description

No single sculpture in the history of Western art has been more influential than Praxiteles’s Knidian Aphrodite, carved in the 4th century BC. The first sculpted nude figure of the goddess of love, it became a famous tourist attraction and made Praxiteles a celebrity in the Greek world. The shocking originality of showing the goddess unaware that she had been seen emerging from her bath made a lasting impression. It became a prototype for generations of Greek and Roman sculptors. Its popularity inspired many variations, including this one. The sensitivity of the carving, seen to advantage in the wet hair falling on the shoulders, imparts a dynamic sensuality.

See also
Collection: 
GR - Greek
Department: 
Greek and Roman Art
Type of artwork: 
Sculpture

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