34. Venus and Amor

With roots in an imposing French artist family, Mathurin Moreau also stood out as a representative sculptor of academic art. His father was the sculptor Jean-Baptise-Louis-Joseph Moreau, who guided his first steps in art; his brothers were the artists Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau. Mathurin Moreau won a first prize at the Rome exhibition at just 21 years old. He then exhibited at the Salons in Paris and was awarded at the Salon organized in 1897. He dedicated more time to public sculptures, which he exhibited both in France and in Geneva, Liverpool, Peru or Buenos Aires. In 1855, Queen Victoria was gifted sculptures signed by Mathurin Moreau representing allegories of the seasons. His artistic career intertwined with that of a politician, the artist holding the position of mayor of the 19th arrondissement of Paris from 1879 until 1912, the year of his death. Also this year, a street in Paris was renamed in his memory. His sculpture is remarkable for the finesse of execution and for the sentimental charge the artist manages to embed in the hardness of the materials. The elegance of the form enhances the precision of execution and reveals us subjects taken from mythology like Daphnis and Chloe, the goddess Diana or the famous pair Venus and Amor. Upon closer inspection, we will notice that the sculptor offered different interpretations to the aforementioned pair. In this work, we find protective Venus, holding little Amoras in her arms. In other works, Amor is depicted offering Venus the shell loaded with water; or Venus confiscating Cupid's arrow. Daughter of Jupiter and goddess of love and fertility, Venus will be a popular subject among artists. Born from waves and sea foam, she will sometimes be represented as a nymph, and other times we will notice the allegory of the shell from which the goddess appears. The etymology of her name branches out through a nature of seduction, a potion of love, or a feminine element with aquatic features. Over time, several statues depicting the goddess were discovered, fact that will lead to her recognition as a standard of beauty. The works of art will illustrate the goddess usually accompanied by her son with Mercury: Cupid (or Amor in Latin poetry), the god of desire, armed with a bow and several arrows. Portrayed as the little child with wings, carrying a bow and arrows, he will be illustrated mostly as a playful Cupid, who runs after butterflies or flirts with nymphs. His arrows become a symbol of love that begins unexpectedly and can overwhelm the bearer of deep feelings. We are therefore dealing with a dynamic duo, which has the mission to reiterate the importance of affection and the state of euphoria given off by it.

Размери

depth 13 cm, width 29 cm, height 30 cm

Описание

bronze, signed on the right side, on the base, "Moreau"

ДОПЪЛНИТЕЛНА ИНФОРМАЦИЯ

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