Venus Victrix; Paolina Bonaparte, Image showcases the sitting, sculpted portrait of Pauline Bonaparte as Aphrodite/Venus. The semi-nude woman rests while holding an apple, the famed apple of discord from the Judgement of Paris. Given the unique nature of the almost nude portrait of a aristocratic woman, much intrigue has been stimulated by Bonaparte's choice given that this sculpture was a wedding gift to her husband Camillo Borghese who had originally requested that she be depicted as the modest Diana., 1805 - 1808

 Item — Box: 302
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s46-i0326

Staff Only
Venus Victrix; Paolina Bonaparte, Image showcases the sitting, sculpted portrait of Pauline Bonaparte as Aphrodite/Venus. The semi-nude woman rests while holding an apple, the famed apple of discord from the Judgement of Paris. Given the unique nature of the almost nude portrait of a aristocratic woman, much intrigue has been stimulated by Bonaparte's choice given that this sculpture was a wedding gift to her husband Camillo Borghese who had originally requested that she be depicted as the modest Diana.

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Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.SCUL.0304; Public Notes:

Dates

  • Creation: 1805 - 1808

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Special Collections in the Jean and Alexander Heard Library. Collections should be requested 2-3 days prior to visiting in order to facilitate easier access. For questions or to request a collection, contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Subjects: Sculptors; Portraits; Female Portraits; Female Subjects; Aphrodite; Greco-Roman Mythology; Apple of Discord; Judgement of Paris; Apple; Venus; Nude Portraits; Pauline Bonaparte; Style period: Neoclassical; Technique: carving; Work type: sculpture

Full Extent

1 Items : Image Work Type: photographic print ; Image height (in.): 7.8; Image width (in.): 10.3in.

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

About this Site

This site contains collection guides, or finding aids, to the archival collections held by Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, the History of Medicine Collection, and the Scarritt Bennett Center. Finding aids describe the context, arrangement, and structure of archival materials, allowing users to identify and request materials relevant to their research.

Requesting Materials

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