Very large figure of Aphrodite or Venus Anadyomene
Price: on request
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Object number
AR2680-K02
| Object: |
Large figure of Aphrodite / Venus Anadyomene type
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| Material: |
Red clay with dark patina
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| Date: |
About 4th century B.C. till 2nd century A.D.. Hellenism till Roman Empire |
| Description: |
Figure of a naked young girl standing on a high base with the weight on her left leg and the right leg slightly bent. The goddess has both arms raised, holding and wringing her tresses. Below the left arm is a winged Eros holding a caduceus and standing on a high vase. On the other side, she is accompanied by a dolphin, its body curved and its head down, as if jumping out of the sea, the tail covering her vulva. A circular hole on the back of the figure was made for firing purposes. Makers mark on the back of the base. The figure belongs to the famous Aphrodite or Venus Anadyomene type, showing the birth of the goddess rising up the sea. According to Hesiod's Theogony, the Titan Cronus killed his father Uranus and cast his testicles into the sea. From the white foam which spread around them, Aphrodite was born, rising from the sea in the area of Paphos on Cyprus. Many ancient sources report the popularity of this scene in ancient art, among which was a (now lost) much admired depiction by the painter Apelles of Kos in the 4th century B.C. which was brought to Rome on the order of Augustus and described by the Roman author Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia. Similar to another figure of Aphrodite or Venus Anadyomene from the Ritschel collection (see e.g. the making of the hair, arms and dolphin). Possibly from the same workshop or made by two potters belonging to the same school. |
| Size: |
Height 42 cm, width 14 cm, depth 9 cm.
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| Condition: |
Very good condition for an ancient figure of this size. Professionally restored from several fragments, some small missing parts complemented. Impressive object.
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| References: |
For the type see e.g. R. A. Higgins, Greek terracottas (London 1967) plate 34A (there without vase, dolphin and eros)
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2019 from the estate of professor Ritschel, Austria. Exported with the approval of the Austrian federal monuments office. Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Ritschel acquired his collection between 1960 and 1970 from international art dealers.
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| Prof. Ritschel collection: |
Professor Ritschel played an important role for the culture and historical heritage of Salzburg in Austria. He supported the town's cultural development with great commitment. For example, he sponsored the restoration of the Franciscan Church. As a president of the local museum association he was playing a key role in the erection of the Salzburg Museum in the Neue Residenz. The author and brilliant writer manifested his interest in history in over 50 books and 500 columns telling the story of Salzburg. He lived his passion to communicate history to a broader public. For his achievements Karl-Heinz Ritschel was decorated many times, for example in 1995 when the Republic of Austria awarded its Decoration for Science and Art. Also his private collection of ancient art was impressive, focussing on Roman pottery, glass, bronzes and portraiture. We have taken great care to prepare the apparently unpublished pieces with our usual high claim to quality. Now we would like to give them back to the commitment and care of a well-managed collection. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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