5: Sculpture

Venus (of the Medici Venus type)

Unknown 19th-century Sculptor from an ancient original

Height 208 cm

Copper sheeting

This statue is a typical example of monumental decorative sculpture from the second half of the 19th century. Sculptors of that period not only drew upon the works of noted European predecessors of various schools, but also reproduced, often in their own interpretation, celebrated works of ancient art. The statue of Venus goes back in type to a famous 4th-century B.C. sculpture in the collection of the Medici family. The sculpture was produced from copper sheets by repousse work, the least laborious technique that made it possible to reduce a whole number of works. Statues produced using this technique could be used not only as park or garden sculpture, but also to decorate the facades of buildings.