Author(s):
renoir, auguste (limoges, 25–02–1841 - cagnes-sur-mer, 03–12–1919), designer
guino, richard (ricardo guino y boix, known as) (girona, 05–26–1890 - antony, 02–02–1973), sculptor
other title: venus with the apple (old title (outdated))
production date: between 1914 and 1916
dating in centuries: 1st quarter of the 20th century
type(s) of object(s): sculpture
name(s): round
materials and techniques: bronze
dimensions - artwork:
height: 181cm
width: 111cm
depth: 78 cm
weight (type dimension): 268 g
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
signature - signed: "renoir"
date - dated: "191[6]"
inscription - on the terrace: "state d. Tif / vi"
iconographic description:
venus holds the apple given to her by the shepherd paris, judge of the beauty contest that she won, in her right hand, while revealing her nudity with the other hand. Historical commentary:
renoir was interested in sculpture intermittently, but it is said that it was an exchange with maillol in 1907 that made him return to modeling at the end of his life. In 1913, ambroise vollard, his assigned dealer, suggested that he employ richard guino, a young sculptor studying under maillol, to assist him. Their collaboration lasted 5 years, renoir, crippled by rheumatism, throwing sketches on paper, guino modeling the projected work under the direction of the master who waved or pointed a stick to express the necessary plastic modifications, vollard publishing the works in bronze. Venus victrix, created between 1914 and 1916, illustrates the triumph of the goddess of love over her competitors, minerva and juno. She holds the apple given to her by the shepherd paris, the sole judge of this beauty contest, while revealing herself in a gesture reminiscent of countless births of venus. The antique style is the echo of renoir's later style: like maillol, bourdelle or picasso at the same time, he turned to the greco-roman model in what we will call "the return to style", combining realism and idealism. This is reflected in the refined silhouette of venus, in her gentle and measured movements, in the smooth surface and round shapes of her body. Much more than a conquering venus, the venus victrix is a bather – one of those who cross the painted work of renoir. All exalt the female body with the same mixture of fullness of form and modesty of downcast gaze. But the three-dimensionality and the bronze material of the sculpture add a new flavor to the familiar theme of the old artist, thus endowing it with an eminently sensual visual and tactile reality. A. S. Themes / subjects / places represented:
mythological figure, greco-roman mythology, bather, female nude, apple
person / character depicted:
venus (roman mythology); aphrodite (greek mythology)
acquisition method: manual donation
name of donor, testator, seller: vollard, ambroise
date of acquisition: 20–03–1931
institution: petit palais, museum of fine arts of the city of paris
inventory number: pps1708
exposed:
petit palais garden level room 09 (concorde room). Date: between 1914 and 1916.
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