The Birth of Venus

The goddess of love and beauty, Venus has been the subject of many works of art. For example, the more famous Botticelli's Birth of Venus depicts the goddess in a modest pose, with her right hand and long blond hair covering her nakedness. A young woman also brings her a flowered cloak to cover up. In contrast, Cabanel's rendition is much more sensual. Venus is lying on her side atop a wave in a seductive pose, her nudity fully revealed and her long, auburn hair floating around her. Her face is partially obscured by her arms, though she is looking directly at the viewer through heavy eyelids. Rather than trying to cover her up, Cabanel paints five cherubs flying overhead, twisted in motion trying to witness the birth of the goddess and announce her arrival by playing conch shell trumpets.