English 41

Casey Jane P. Aguilar

July 2013
BSChE 3

Sir

Wilson

Hormeguera
Aphrodite of Melos/Venus de Milo
Basic Documentary Information

When was it created?

It was created during the Hellenistic Period, sometime between 130 100 BC.

Why is it called, Aphrodite of Melos/Venus de Milo?

It was called Aphrodite of Melos/Venus the sculpture depicting Aphrodite (in
Greek)/Venus (in Roman) was found in the island of Milos, also called as Melos
or Milo.

What is its provenance?

The sculpture came from Cyclades, Greece, formerly the Island of Melos. It is
now located at the Louvre in Paris, France.

Basic Semiotic Plane

What is the choice of medium and technique?

The choice of medium is marble, particularly Parian marble. The technique
used is hammer and point work, holding the chisel on the stone and pounding
the hammer at it as hard as possible. The addition of marble blocks enables
to create extended body parts of the sculpture which was also applied in this
sculpture.

What visual elements are present?

The visual elements present are the contrast between the smooth nude flesh
of the torso and the ruffled texture of the drapery covering the legs, the spiral
composition - that is, the slight turn of the body - from the hips to the
shoulder - combined with the outward thrust of the right hip, resulting in a
fascinating S-shaped pose, the relatively small size of the torso and a hint of
erotic tension caused by the drapery which threatens to slip off entirely.

What is the source of the elements that derive their semantic?

The source of the elements is from the socio-cultural conventions of a

particular society and period which shows that in the sculpture was created
during the Hellenistic period which was during the Greek and Roman
civilization in which in their history, they believe in gods and Aphrodite was
part of them. Another is that the color used is based on the stone present
during that era and also its details.
Iconic Plane

What is its style of figuration?

The style of figuration is realist figuration which shows the real image of the
goddess Aphrodite.

What is the significance of the cropping used (arms)?

The reason of the cropping of arms of Venus de Milo was just an accident
because when the sculpture was found, the arms were lost together with its
plinth after its discovery.

How is the posture of the woman conveying her emotional attitude?

The posture of the woman conveys her attitude by her bodys position which
shows an S-shaped pose which shows beauty and aesthetics. Its posture also
suggests that she is teasing the other through the drapery on her thighs and
her position with her body as well.

Contextual Plane

What are the values/concepts present in the work?

The values and concepts present in the work are of Hellenistic in concept
showing the sensuous juxtaposition of flesh with the texture of drapery,
which seems about to slip off the figure, adds an insistent note of erotic
tension. Also the sculpture has its aesthetic value which clearly focuses on
the womans beauty. It also has a concept of womens fashion which
represents the era of the Greek and Romans.

What is the history of the work?

Venus de Milo was discovered on April 8, 1820 by Yorgos Kentrotas inside a
buried niche within the city of Milos, in the current village of Tripti, in the
Aegean which was part of the Ottoman Empire. The statue was found in two
large pieces (the upper torso and the lower draped legs) along with
several herms (pillars topped with heads), fragments of the upper left arm
and left hand holding an apple, and an inscribed plinth. The Venus de

Milo has been dated to the later Hellenistic period (323-27 BCE) and
attributed to the less well-known stone sculptor Alexandros of Antioch.

What is the relationship of the work to the society?

Venus de Milos relationship to the society is the philosophy of Ancient Greece
in which humans are an example of perfection in nature which they thought
during their era that the human body has perfect proportions and sizes. They
also show features of calmness, balance and serenity which links to the
physical beauty and harmony of the body leading to the beauty of the soul
and moral balance.

Evaluative Plane

Is the medium appropriate in conveying meaning? Why?

Yes, because this enables the viewer to see the true and real appearance of
Aphrodite. Through the marble medium, it shows the cleanliness of the art to
show beauty. And through this work of art, it was able to convey the meaning
that Aphrodite is indeed a goddess of love and beauty, being a symbol of
female beauty and aesthetics.

Is the medium used with a high degree of skill? Why?

Yes, because a pointed chisel is used and held against the stone and swung
the hammer as hard as possible. It also requires energy and skill to make the
sculpture. It is also hard to make mistakes when making the sculpture
because the breaking and sculpting the stone cannot be undone. The artist
should maintain a rhythm of relatively longer blows (about one per second),
swinging the hammer in a wider arc, lifting the chisel between blows to flick
out any chips that remain in the way, and repositioning it for the next blow.
This way, one can drive the point deeper into the stone and remove more
material at a time. Some stoneworkers also spin the subbia in their fingers
between hammer blows, thus applying with each blow a different part of the
point to the stone. This helps prevent the point from breaking.

What was the feeling conveyed by the work?

The feeing conveyed by the work is the sensuality and warmth given out by
Aphrodite. Venus de Milo also shows grace, vulnerability and peace.

References
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_de_Milo (Date Accessed: 26 July 2013)

2. http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/sculpture/venus-de-milo.htm (Date Accessed:

26 July 2013)
3. http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/aphrodite-known-venus-de-milo (Date
Accessed: 26 July 2013)
4. http://idliketocallyourattentionto.blogspot.com/2007/06/aphrodite-of-melosvenus-de-milo.html (Date Accessed: 27 July 2013)
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_sculpture (Date Accessed: 27 July 2013)
6. http://www.answers.com/topic/venus-de-milo (Date Accessed: 28 July 2013)
7. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061027121217AAfkEsk
(Date Accessed: 28 July 2013)