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Venus rising from the sea
Venus rising from the sea

Venus rising from the sea

Artist (1741 - 1806)
Date1772
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsFramed: 285 x 195 x 12 cm
264.7 x 172.2 cm
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery. Donated by J. D. Penrose, 1948.
Object number1019
DescriptionIn the centre is a nude female figure representing the goddess Venus. She is holding up her long golden hair with both her arms raised well above her head. Her body is facing forward while her head is turned towards the left. She is standing on water close to a shore and a cloud bellows up from her feet and divides in a v-shape at her mid-section. Leaning on the cloud, behind Venus, on the right-hand side is a nude young male with small wings, representing Cupid, and holding a small golden bow in his left hand. His body is in profile while his head is looking towards the viewer. There are a pair of white doves nestling in the cloud on the left-hand side, kissing each other. Behind Venus in the right foreground is a dark brown horse rearing out of the sea.
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