Venus Anadyomene (Venus Rising from the Sea)
Titian, c1520
Aphrodite Anadyomene is depicted wringing her hair as she wades ashore through the shallows, with a diminuitive scallop shell floating beside her.
According to legend, she was born fully grown from the foam and blown ashore on a scallop shell, landing near Paphos in Cyprus. The great painter of antiquity, Apelles had painted a similar work, and Titian was deliberately inviting comparison between them by choosing to paint this subject.
This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Venus Anadyomene (Venus Rising from the Sea), c1520
Date supported
2003
Medium and material
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
75.8 x 57.6 cm
Grant
500000
Total cost
11414178
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