AFTER THE MODEL BY GIAMBOLOGNA, CIRCA 1890

The elegantly twisted pose of this Venus is based on the bronze statuette by Giambologna of Astronomy or Venus Urania. Giambologna's figure would seem to have been a companion to an Apollo made for the Medici Studiolo in Florence around 1573. The original is accompanied by symbols of astronomy which have not been maintained in this 19th century marble Venus. Giambologna himself executed a marble version, considered to be slightly less successful than the bronze, which stood in the Grotticella of the Boboli Gardens in Florence. Like Giambologna's figure, this 19th century version stands on a small circular base, which adds to the elegance and dynamic of the figure, and her twisting motion encourages viewing from every angle, a familiar feature of many 16th century Mannerist sculptures.