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April 26, 2011

Venus

The Romans took a lot of the Greek gods and renamed them, so Aphrodite became Venus. Here she is having just risen from a choppy sea, riding on a convenient, and rather large, scallop shell, being blown to the shore by Zephyrs while hiding her modesty with her long tresses. An attendant waits on the shore with a fancy blanket so she doesn't catch a chill

venus.jpg

The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli, tempera on canvas, 1486

Posted by john at April 26, 2011 08:55 PM

Comments

This painting used to hang in our living-room when I was little. I was quite surprised when I found out how famous it was.

Posted by: Daphne at April 27, 2011 10:27 PM