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In this monumental painting, Venus, the goddess of love, is attended by the Three Graces, who carefully fasten her sandals and jewellery. Her son Cupid stands before his bow and arrow in the foreground, delicately holding a pearl earring between forefinger and thumb, while a putto reaches through the window to place a flower amongst an arrangement in an antique urn. The semi-reclining goddess is shown with lips parted and eyes looking heavenward – an expression that came to be associated with both religious and secular women in Guido Reni’s paintings. Multiple versions of this composition are known, and this painting was previously considered a copy carried out by Reni’s studio assistants. Recent conservation treatment has, however, revealed far more of Reni’s hand at work than had previously been thought.
Title
The Toilet of Venus
Date
about 1620-5
Medium
Oil on canvas
Measurements
H 281.9 x W 205.7 cm
Accession number
NG90
Acquisition method
Presented by William IV, 1836
Work type
Painting
