Description
A very beautiful terracotta statuette of the goddess of Love, appearing nude in a slight contrapposto pose, typical S-shape curve to her body that is usually characteristic of post-classical, Baroque sculpture. Her gaze is directed vaguely downward, not directly to the viewer, but holding on to her clothing which she is attempting to bring back to the front, as it must have “accidentally slipped” to the back of her body. The viewer is maybe scandalized at his own risk! This ingeniously adopted stance allows for the demeanor of the goddess to appear both 1) preserving her conservative, more traditional Greek view of her, reluctant to appear without clothes and 2) at the same time enhancing her newly revealed sexual appeal.
Probably from Asia Minor or Magna Grecia, Southern Italy, late 3rd Century BC
Size: 12 in. tall
