Pauline Bonaparte Borghese as Venus Victrix

Lot 33
16.11.2022 11:00UTC +01:00
Classic
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€ 9 240
AuctioneerVAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH
Event locationGermany, Köln
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ID 841973
Lot 33 | Pauline Bonaparte Borghese as Venus Victrix
Estimate value
€ 3 000 – 4 000
PAULINE BONAPARTE BORGHESE AS VENUS VICTRIX.

Italy.
Date: 19th century.
Maker/Designer: After Antonio Canova.
Technique: White and orange marble, bronze.
Description: Like the life-size model, the sculpture here - smaller scale - is worked in white marble.
It shows the goddess Venus, with the facial features of Pauline Bonaparte Borghese,
stretched out on a recamiere, with only a shawl draped around her hips. She holds an apple
in her left hand, which identifies her as Venus Victrix, the victorious goddess in the
judgment of Paris.
Measurement: 36x61,5x21cm.
Mark: On the front of the daybed inscribed 'Canova', below monogram 'WG' Or 'WHG'.

The famous original was created by Antonio Canova between 1805 and 1808 and is one of the
central pieces of the collection of the Villa Borghese in Rome. Prince Camillo II Borghese
had commissioned the sculpture on the occasion of his marriage to Pauline Bonaparte in
1803. After its completion, the sculpture caused quite a commotion due to its revealing
depiction and the question of whether Pauline Bonaparte had actually posed nude for
Canova. The latter has not been clearly clarified to the present day.
Address of auction VAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH
Hitzelerstr. 2
50968 Köln
Germany
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11.11.2022 – 14.11.2022
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