Statue of the goddess Venus at the Louvre, France

The Venus of Milo occupies a prominent place in the history of Greek sculpture and in the fascination with antiquities. In fact, this is a primitive Greek statue dating back about 100 BC. It was accidentally discovered by a farmer in 1820, not far from the ruins of an antique theater on the island of Melos (or Milo) in southwestern Greece. Cyclades Islands. This style is sometimes described as retrospective, a typical representative of the end of the Hellenistic period, which began to innovate and revive classic themes. The sculptor undoubtedly drew on the experience of Greek classical art. The Venus of Milo belongs to the thematic tradition created by the sculptor Praxiteles two centuries ago. But the master of Aphrodite in the Louvre liberated himself from the legacy of the past and showed his creative ingenuity. Although the expression on the face still shows a slight coldness called classic, the body has been treated in a completely different way. It is based on torsional movement, some parts of the body rotate in different directions, so that it can be truly regarded as a circular sculpture. The moving silhouette, rotating posture and realistic silhouette clearly illustrate the genius of the artist who made this statue. Material | Resin statue, square black marble base Dimensions | Height 16 cm, base 5 x 5 cm Origin | France-Paris Louvre