Venus

It has been suggested that this figure, with her head turned in an elegiac manner to one side, was made as one in a series of statues representing deities; however, no second figure of similar size has been found that might be matched with it. Venus gave Alessandro Vittoria the opportunity to try his hand at one of sculpture’s principal subjects, the female nude. Although the gesture she is making with her left hand recalls the classical pudica motif, there is otherwise nothing to associate this piece with the features of classical prototypes, which were conceived to be viewed from one side only. Rather, Vittoria’s Venus embodies the Mannerist figura serpentinata, which turns within itself and is notable for its elongated proportions and small head. This figure poised in a relaxed contrapposto, holding a staff while in the midst of a graceful movement, can be viewed from numerous appealing angles, as the round base emphasizes. The elegant, almost artificial appearance of this female body reflects the enormous impact on sculpture of Parmigianino’s paintings.