Roman, Imperial period, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A beautiful cream-colored marble statue of Venus Genetrix, the goddess of love, and her young son Eros at her side. She stands, facing forward, wearing a long, diaphanous chiton that has slipped off her shoulder to reveal her left breast. With her raised right arm, she reaches upward, to pull the mantle that wraps around her back down over her body. Her extended left hand holds an apple, and Eros holds something round - perhaps also an apple - at his stomach. There are traces of pigment remaining on the piece, notably on her hair, which appears to have been painted a pinkish red. Size: 5.45" W x 13.2" H (13.8 cm x 33.5 cm)

Marble reliefs, statuary, and cladding were ubiquitous in the Roman urban sphere, as the remains of the preserved cities at Herculaneum and Pompeii demonstrate. Small figures like this one may have been used to grace domestic altars or decorate villas or tombs. The religious theme here, of Venus Genetrix, mirrors similar, more monumental marble sculpture, like the famous Venus Genetrix now on view at the Capitoline Museums. This form of the goddess was honored specifically by the Julio-Claudian dynasty, whose members followed Julius Caesar's precedent of claiming Venus as their ancestor.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich, New York, USA, collected in the 1960s

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#137784

One hand is lost as well as the top of the mantle at the back of the piece. Small chips and nicks, with a lightly weathered surface. Otherwise in nice condition with some deposits in the lower profile areas.