Venus Anadyomene (Venus Rising from the Sea)
Titian
- Art Funded
- 2003
- Dimensions
- 75.8 x 57.6 cm
- Vendor
- Trustees of the Ellesmere 1939 Settlement
Aphrodite Anadyomene is depicted wringing her hair as she wades ashore through the shallows, with a diminuitive scallop shell floating beside her.
According to legend, she was born fully grown from the foam and blown ashore on a scallop shell, landing near Paphos in Cyprus. The great painter of antiquity, Apelles had painted a similar work, and Titian was deliberately inviting comparison between them by choosing to paint this subject. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.
Provenance
Perhaps Raffaele Raggio, 16th century, Genoa; ... ; Queen Christina of Sweden, until 1689; Cardinal Dezio Azzolino; Marchese Pompeo Azzolino; Prince livio Odescalchi until 1713; Prince Baldassare Odescalchi-Erba; Regent Philippe, Duc d'Orleans, 1721;