Buste van Venus de' Medici, en profile naar links 1672 - 1711

Augustinus Terwesten created this print of the Medici Venus, a famous marble statue, sometime before 1711. The print speaks to the enduring power of classical imagery and its role in shaping European ideals of beauty and art. Terwesten’s choice of subject reveals the cultural prestige attached to classical antiquity in the Netherlands at the turn of the 18th century. The Medici Venus, itself a Roman copy of a Greek sculpture, was a centerpiece of the Medici collection in Florence, a must-see destination on the Grand Tour. Prints like this allowed wider audiences to access and appreciate such iconic works. The proliferation of these images also speaks to the growing art market and the increasing importance of art academies in dictating taste. Artists looked to the classical past for inspiration and validation, reinforcing a hierarchy of artistic values. By studying inventories, travel accounts, and the records of art institutions, we can better understand the social and economic forces that shaped the production and consumption of art in this period, revealing the complex interplay between art, power, and cultural identity.