Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
by Antonio Canova, 1808
Artwork Details
Details
- Year
- 1808
- Medium
- Carrara marble
- Size
- 160 cm × 192 cm (63 × 76 in)
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Antonio Canova sculpted this Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix between 1805 and 1808. Napoleon's sister reclines semi-nude on a couch, holding the golden apple Paris awarded Venus. The work caused scandal: a noblewoman displaying herself so provocatively was shocking even for the era.
When asked how she could pose nearly naked, Pauline reportedly replied, "There was a fire in the studio." The marble rests on a wooden base containing a mechanism that once rotated the sculpture for viewing. Canova's Neoclassical style idealized Pauline's features while retaining enough realism for recognition. Her husband Prince Camillo Borghese kept the sculpture hidden, rarely allowing viewings. It remains in the Borghese Gallery.
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About Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
Pauline Bonaparte was Napoleon's favorite sister. She married Prince Camillo Borghese in 1803, becoming mistress of the Borghese collection. She was known for her beauty and scandalous behavior.
A noblewoman posing semi-nude as Venus shocked contemporaries. Her husband kept it hidden, rarely permitting viewings. Asked how she posed naked, Pauline allegedly said there was a fire in the studio.
Venus Victrix means 'Victorious Venus.' She holds the golden apple Paris awarded her as the most beautiful goddess. The title emphasizes Pauline's own beauty and her triumph over rivals.
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