Venus Anadyomene c. 1751 - 1790

Editor: This is Stefano Mulinari's "Venus Anadyomene," a pencil drawing from around 1751-1790. I find it quite striking, the way Venus is depicted emerging from the sea on a shell, surrounded by these symbolic animals, especially against the neutral background. How do you interpret this work, considering its historical context? Curator: Well, seen through a historical lens, Mulinari's work is a fascinating example of Neoclassical reception and reinterpretation of classical themes in the late 18th century. This depiction of Venus aligns with a broader cultural obsession with antiquity and idealized beauty that influenced art academies and collecting practices, thus contributing to a canon of approved artworks and their reproductive prints. What do you make of the inclusion of both the goat and the doves? Editor: I suppose the doves are for Venus' association with love. Maybe the goat represents… something earthy? It does strike me as unusual with the nude figure. Curator: Precisely! The goat might allude to Pan and other chthonic divinities, or maybe even referencing Capricorn, sometimes associated with Augustus in certain imperial contexts. How might Mulinari's "Venus Anadyomene" participate in legitimizing the prevailing power structures through its selective adoption of imagery from antiquity? Also, consider its reception. Who do you think might have commissioned or purchased a drawing like this and where might it have been displayed? Editor: A wealthy patron, definitely. It feels like something destined for a private collection. Thinking about that, the display context really shifts my perception. It’s not just about beauty, but about status and knowledge of the classics. Curator: Exactly. These depictions also become part of visual culture, which impacts people’s view on things such as idealized forms and womanhood during that time period. It becomes not only a reproduction of the time but a representation of it. What do you make of it now, knowing this information? Editor: It definitely feels heavier now. I initially saw delicate beauty, but understanding the socio-political underpinnings of Neoclassical art really transforms the work. Thanks for helping me see beyond the surface.