Mediterranean Venus

Julio Antonio, with his love for ancient art, was inspired by Roman civilisation and the sculptures he had discovered both at the Archaeological Museum of Tarragona and his stay in Rome, in particular Venus Esquilina. Like that one, Venus Mediterránea has mutilated arms, the small and high breasts of a young woman and gently rounded forms. The treatment of the hair, while reminiscent of the former goddess, is more archaistic, whereas the legs are completely different, in this case set apart to give the figure stability. It is worth noting that in the descriptive report of the project of the monument the sculptor submitted to Tarragona City Council for its execution, he clearly stated his intention to make evident the link between the current monument and Tarragona’s Roman past. Text by Antonio Salcedo Miliani