Carroll Mable Professor: Sgroi Readings in the arts Week 10: Final Project

Carroll Mable Professor: Sgroi Readings in the arts Week 10: Final Project

The Birth of Venus

1. Title: The Birth of Venus 2. Artist: Alexandre Cabanel (French, Montpellier 1823-1889 Paris) 3. Date: 1875 4. What is it? Painting 5. Medium? Oil on canvas 6. Style? Realistic, Impressionist 7. How do color, Line and texture affect your response of the piece?

a. I love the way that the color is transformed throughout this piece, from the soft flesh tone coloring used for the body of Venus leading one to smile of her captured beauty by the artist. The drab morbid colors of the water signify a dark period for women as well as beautiful to look at. The focus the cherubs in the sky reconnect a smile to this lovely depiction of femininity leaving a calm that settles the excitement this piece commands. b. Curved lines arouse the emotional connection to this art for me , however, ever so controlled leaving me to imagine her face as that of one before me that may hold my fantasy of she lying before me as I paint her canvas with my hands as my brush and her beauty and love as my captured art. c. An oil based medium of any painting, adds a great deal of quality, value and elegance it seems, although in this piece it is easier to except a nude as a respectful work of art due to how the elements of the piece are so craftily composed.

After viewing several works of art in the Gallery 827 - Salon Paintings from the Wolfe Collections, a few works of art that caught my eye were; ( Nymphs and Satyr by William Bouguereau (French, La Rochelle 18251905 La Rochelle), Springtime by Pierre-Auguste Cot (French, Bdarieux 18371883 Paris) and The work of art I chose to research, The Birth of Venus by Cabanel (French, Montpellier 1823-1889 Paris). The reason I decided to research Alexandre Cabanels version of The Birth of Venus over Sandro Botticellis version. As Greek mythology has it, Venus was birthed from the sea, it is said that she rose from beneath the sea in an oyster shell were the tides wisped her toward the shore. What led me to research the works of Alexandre Cabanel was actually The Birth of Venus by Bottollini. The portraying Venus in the shell near the shore surrounded by butterflies and being pulled ashore and wrapped in a cloak by the nymph did not appeal to my eyes as much as the oil on canvas of The Birth of Venus by Cabanel had. Although Cabanels version was not the original work of art it was by the far the more intimate piece for me. To capture such vivid beauty on canvas in its self was overwhelmingly appealing to me with the all the realistic details and features. This type of art work would normally lead the viewer to critique this work in a derogatory fashion, to be graced with the opportunity to view a work of art in person displaying such a beautiful specimen of femininity, beauty and love all encapsulated within one composition and transformed into a beautiful work of was so emotionally overwhelming for me. The myth of the birth of Venus is very interesting and how Alexandre Cabanel did not exhibit the sea shell or the nymph in his version of The Birth of Venus. I truly believe that in reference to ancient Greek mythology, the myths definitely grew with the snowball effect

throughout time. I personally do not believe in that many of the myths are all true and that many of the historic figures in all cultures have at some time or another developed a way to survive by selling false press in their time. I have a great deal of respect for all artists in general, past and present whether I enjoy their work or not because without them we would lack so much understanding of self-expression. Regarding The Birth of Venus by Cabanel, I would consider ordering the $500.00 copy for the atrium in my home. Cabanels rendition of the birth of Venus is very revealing in reference to a nude work of art for that era. Of todays standards this type of nude art is very popular among the art enthusiast throughout the world. I would love to see this version of The Birth of Venus on display in person someday soon.

The Birth of Venus

Title: The Birth of Venus Date of Creation: 1486 Height (cm): 172.50 Length (cm): 278.50 Medium: Tempera Support: Canvas Framed: No Art Movement: Renaissance Created by: Sandro Botticelli Current Location: Florence, Italy Displayed at: Galleria degli Uffizi

Gallery 827 - Salon Paintings from the Wolfe Collections - See more at: http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/galleries/europeanpaintings/827#sthash.MwMNpVKm.dpuf