.

Greek Mythology

Musée du Louvre, Paris, France
Artist/Maker Copy of Praxiteles
Capitoline Venus, copy of the Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles. Roman artwork of the Imperial Era, 2th century CE. Marble.

Dimensions H. 1.8 m (5 ft. 10 ¾ in.)

Credit line Borghese Collection; purchase, 1807

Accession number Ma 335

Location Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Sully, ground floor, room 17

Photographer/source Jastrow (2005)

orghese Venus, 2nd century AD Roman marble copy of the Aphrodite of Cnidus (Capitoline Venus subtype). Once in the Borghese collection, it now resides in the Louvre Museum thanks to its purchase by Napoleon. The accompanying Cupid and dolphin are both classical attributes of Venus but are probably the addition of the Roman copyist.

Other ancient Venuses at the Louvre

Three other Venuses were acquired from the Borghese collection at the same time, though the last two are far more restored than this example - 'Aphrodite at the pillar', an 'Armed Venus' and a Venus Pudica .

Greek Mythology