Venus Verticordia

myminifactory

In the iconic form of Venus, the Roman deity of love, sculptor John Gibson discovered his perfect muse. This masterpiece, with its smoothly contoured face and refined lines, portrays an epitome of feminine loveliness, a worthy counterpart to the classical statues that Gibson revered. Nevertheless, Gibson endeavored to convey a beauty transcending the physical realm. As recounted in his life story, published in 1870, he stated, "The expression I sought to impart to my Venus was that sublime elevation of character stemming from purity and sweetness, combined with an aura of unassuming dignity and elegance." Venus holds an apple, the prize bestowed upon her by shepherd Paris for her extraordinary beauty. This fruit is commonly associated in art with sensual love, yet Gibson dubbed his statue Venus Verticordia - 'the changer of hearts.' This is not the flighty, licentious Aphrodite of Greek mythology, but rather the virtuous, maternal Venus who guided the founding of Rome. The Romans revered Venus Verticordia on April 1st as a goddess of chastity, as poet Ovid recounts in his poem about the Roman calendar, Fasti, book 4, 157-161: "In the days of our ancestors, Rome had lost its sense of modesty, so they consulted the venerable Cumaean Sibyl. She decreed a temple to Venus be built; and, this accomplished, the goddess took on the name Verticordia." At the statue's feet, almost concealed by her drapery, is a tortoise upon which the artist has inscribed a Latin phrase, OPUS IOANNIS GIBSON ROMAE - 'the creation of John Gibson, Rome.' The animal likely alludes to the goddess' legendary birth from the sea. "The human form hidden beneath a frock coat and trousers is not a suitable subject for sculpture".