Buste van Domitia 1646 - 1670

Hubert Quellinus created this bust of Domitia, immortalized in ink. The draped fabric, partially revealing her breast, echoes the ancient Roman ideals of beauty and virtue. It’s a subtle nod to fertility and the nurturing role of women, recurring motifs throughout art history. Think of Botticelli’s Venus, emerging from the sea, draped yet exposed. Consider, however, how this motif evolves. In medieval art, such exposure might signify shame or penance, whereas here, it is a symbol of classical grace, re-emerging during periods of cultural revival. It speaks to our collective memory, tapping into primal notions of life and mortality. The emotional power lies in this tension—the controlled exposure, the idealized form—a psychological dance that engages us, drawing us into an eternal dialogue between past and present. The image resurfaces, laden with history, yet ever relevant in its appeal to the fundamental aspects of human existence.