Venus of Urbino
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| [[Image:Venus (Titian).jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Venus of Urbino|Venus of Urbino]]'' ([[1538]]) by [[Titian]]]] | [[Image:Venus (Titian).jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Venus of Urbino|Venus of Urbino]]'' ([[1538]]) by [[Titian]]]] | ||
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| - | The '''''Venus of Urbino''''' (1538) is an [[oil painting]] by the Italian master [[Titian]]. It depicts a [[nude woman|nude]] [[young woman]], identified with the goddess [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]], reclining on a couch or bed in the sumptuous surroundings of a [[Renaissance]] palace. It hangs in the [[Galleria degli Uffizi]] in [[Florence]]. | + | The '''''Venus of Urbino''''' (1538) is an [[oil painting]] by the Italian master [[Titian]]. It depicts a [[nude woman|nude]] [[young woman]], identified with the goddess [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]], reclining on a couch or bed in the sumptuous surroundings of a [[Renaissance]] palace. In his 1880 [[Travel literature|travelogue]] ''[[A Tramp Abroad]]'', [[Mark Twain]] called the ''Venus of Urbino'' "the foulest, the vilest, the obscenest picture the world possesses". He proposed that "it was painted for a [[bagnio]] and it was probably refused because it was a trifle too strong', adding humorously that "in truth, it is a trifle too strong for any place but a public art gallery". ''Venus of Urbino'' inspired the later painting ''[[Olympia (painting)|Olympia]]'' by [[Édouard Manet]], in which the figure of Venus was replaced with a prostitute. |
| The pose is based on Giorgione's ''[[Sleeping Venus (Giorgione)|Sleeping Venus]]'' (c. 1510), which also is displayed below, but Titian uses more sensuality in comparison to Giorgione's sublime remoteness. | The pose is based on Giorgione's ''[[Sleeping Venus (Giorgione)|Sleeping Venus]]'' (c. 1510), which also is displayed below, but Titian uses more sensuality in comparison to Giorgione's sublime remoteness. | ||
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| The painting was commissioned by [[Guidobaldo II della Rovere]], the Duke of [[Urbino]]. It would originally have decorated a ''[[cassone]]'', a chest traditionally given in [[Italy]] as a wedding present. The maids in the background are shown rummaging through a similar chest, apparently in search of the Venus's clothes. Curiously, given its overtly erotic content, the painting was intended as an instructive 'model' for Giulia Varano, the Duke's extremely young bride. The argument for the painting's didacticism was made by the late art historian Rona Goffen in 1997's “Sex, Space, and Social History in Titian’s Venus of Urbino." | The painting was commissioned by [[Guidobaldo II della Rovere]], the Duke of [[Urbino]]. It would originally have decorated a ''[[cassone]]'', a chest traditionally given in [[Italy]] as a wedding present. The maids in the background are shown rummaging through a similar chest, apparently in search of the Venus's clothes. Curiously, given its overtly erotic content, the painting was intended as an instructive 'model' for Giulia Varano, the Duke's extremely young bride. The argument for the painting's didacticism was made by the late art historian Rona Goffen in 1997's “Sex, Space, and Social History in Titian’s Venus of Urbino." | ||
| - | In his 1880 [[Travel literature|travelogue]] ''[[A Tramp Abroad]]'', [[Mark Twain]] called the ''Venus of Urbino'' "the foulest, the vilest, the obscenest picture the world possesses". He proposed that "it was painted for a [[bagnio]] and it was probably refused because it was a trifle too strong', adding humorously that "in truth, it is a trifle too strong for any place but a public art gallery". | + | It hangs in the [[Galleria degli Uffizi]] in [[Florence]]. |
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| - | ''Venus of Urbino'' inspired the later painting ''[[Olympia (painting)|Olympia]]'' by [[Édouard Manet]], in which the figure of Venus was replaced with a prostitute. | + | |
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Revision as of 22:59, 11 June 2009
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The Venus of Urbino (1538) is an oil painting by the Italian master Titian. It depicts a nude young woman, identified with the goddess Venus, reclining on a couch or bed in the sumptuous surroundings of a Renaissance palace. In his 1880 travelogue A Tramp Abroad, Mark Twain called the Venus of Urbino "the foulest, the vilest, the obscenest picture the world possesses". He proposed that "it was painted for a bagnio and it was probably refused because it was a trifle too strong', adding humorously that "in truth, it is a trifle too strong for any place but a public art gallery". Venus of Urbino inspired the later painting Olympia by Édouard Manet, in which the figure of Venus was replaced with a prostitute.
The pose is based on Giorgione's Sleeping Venus (c. 1510), which also is displayed below, but Titian uses more sensuality in comparison to Giorgione's sublime remoteness.
Devoid as it is of any classical or allegorical trappings ('Venus' displays none of the attributes of the goddess she is supposed to represent), the painting is unapologetically sexy.
The frankness of Venus' expression is often noted; she stares straight at the viewer, unconcerned with her nudity. In her right hand she holds a posy of flowers whilst her left covers her pubic area, provocatively placed in the centre of the composition. In the near background a dog, symbolising fidelity, is asleep.
The painting was commissioned by Guidobaldo II della Rovere, the Duke of Urbino. It would originally have decorated a cassone, a chest traditionally given in Italy as a wedding present. The maids in the background are shown rummaging through a similar chest, apparently in search of the Venus's clothes. Curiously, given its overtly erotic content, the painting was intended as an instructive 'model' for Giulia Varano, the Duke's extremely young bride. The argument for the painting's didacticism was made by the late art historian Rona Goffen in 1997's “Sex, Space, and Social History in Titian’s Venus of Urbino."
It hangs in the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence.
