The Venus Callipyge at The Louvre, Paris

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The Venus Callipyge, also known as Aphrodite Kallipygos (or Callipygian Venus), is a stunning Ancient Roman marble statue thought to be a copy of an older Greek masterpiece created around 300 BC. Depicting a partially draped woman, the statue showcases a young woman raising her light peplos to reveal her beautiful hips and buttocks as she glances back and down over her shoulder with an air of confidence. The subject is often identified as Venus (Aphrodite), but it could also be a portrait of a mortal woman. The marble statue we see today dates to the late 1st century BC, while the original Greek bronze artwork on which it is based is estimated to have been created towards the beginning of the Hellenistic era. Unfortunately, the provenance of the marble copy remains unknown, but it was rediscovered in the early modern era with its head missing. The head was painstakingly restored first in the 16th century and again in the 18th century, with the sculptor meticulously following the earlier restoration to ensure a seamless blend. The statue's popularity soared when its restored head was made to look over its shoulder, drawing further attention to its bare buttocks and captivating audiences. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the statue was identified as Venus and linked to a temple dedicated to Aphrodite Kallipygos at Syracuse, which was discussed in Athenaeus' Deipnosophists. The Callipyge has been recreated numerous times by skilled artists, including Jean-Jacques Clérion and François Barois. One of the most notable replicas was crafted during Barois' residence at the French Academy in Rome between 1683-86. The replica was later sent to Versailles, then Marly-le-Roi in 1695, where it was adorned with additional marble draperies by Jean Thierry to avoid offending the increasingly prudish tastes of the public.