The Venus of Milos is one of the most famous sculptures in the world, recognized by many art historians as an unqualified masterpiece. However, its current state leaves much to be desired, although it is not only the fault of time and force majeure.
Venus of Milos
When it was discovered in 1820 on the island of Milos, part of the arms were in place, moreover, there was even a pedestal with the name of the sculptor, on which was written: "Andros, son of Menides, from the city of Antioch". In general, the find is really valuable, which place in the main museum of France Louvre. A year later it was still delivered to the Louvre, but in what form - without hands, pedestal, and a few other fragments. However, do not think that the transportation of the sculpture was engaged in the descendants of the current movers from Ozone or Weisburys, who only let them play soccer with boxes of expensive goods, there were other reasons.
In the Louvre the statue arrived sealed in several boxes - in the largest was Venus of Milos, and in other smaller her hands, pedestal and fragments. But the museum management was not embarrassed by this, and it was immediately announced that the statue was a real masterpiece created by Praxiteles himself - an outstanding ancient Greek sculptor, the author of "Aphrodite of Cnidus", which was the first sculpture depicting female nudity and other remarkable works.
Praxiteles. Aphrodite of Cnidus. Roman replica from the Ludovisi Collection. 1st century BC.
But the pedestal with the name of a completely different sculptor who lived two centuries later did not correspond to this legend. Therefore, it was simply "forgotten" and later "lost" as a completely unnecessary thing.
There is a drawing showing how the statue looked at the time of its discovery and excavation on the island of Milos.
Auguste Debet. Drawing of the Venus of Milos. 1821.
That is, the part of the left hand was in place there, but the Louvre management in this form the statue seemed unaesthetic, so that piece of marble simply did not attach in place.
The thing is that the Louvre management really wanted to have in the museum an unqualified masterpiece created by some famous ancient Greek sculptor - it was too fresh in the memory when as reparations after the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte they had to give the sculpture of Cleomenes Venus Medice.
Cleomenes. Venus of Medicea
It was really humiliating and offensive, and it was necessary to somehow smooth this situation with the arrival of new masterpieces. Venus of Milos was 100% suitable. But only really the status of a masterpiece could get at that time only sculpture of the period of classical Greece, that is (V-IV centuries BC). And on the pedestal is the name of a little-known sculptor who lived two centuries later. The city of Antioch did not exist at the time of Paraxiteles - it emerged only 200 years later. Thus, the sculpture of a much later period than classical Greece, in which some signs of decline had already begun to appear.
Venus of Milossa was created in the Hellenistic period, when sculptors usually only imitated the great creations of the past, and copies are always worse than the original, and even the Greeks themselves did not appreciate them too highly. This is no longer a piece, but mass production, for not the richest customers. However, there were at that time and really outstanding sculptures, for example, "Laocoon and his sons". It is much better preserved and the level of performance is higher than that of the Venus of Milos.
Laocoon and his sons
Venus also lacks harmony and aesthetic simplicity, which distinguish true masterpieces. The curve of the body is too pretentious, the head, based on the proportions of the body, is small, and the lower part is rough, as if hastily carved from marble. The classical sculptures of Praxiteles are much more perfect.
Right: Praxiteles. Apollo with little Dionysus. 350-330 BC. Left: Venus of Milos.
But the Louvre management had only Venus, so they had to get out of the situation and create a legend of a new masterpiece. And what do you think, whether the Venus of Milos is worthy of its current status - write in the comments.
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