Aphrodite1.0287

Aphrodite1.0287_Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), "Venus in Front of the Mirror" (ca. 1614/1615); oil on canvas (123 x 98 cm), LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna, inv. GE 120, acquired in 1710 by Prince Johann Adam Andreas I von Liechtenstein (1657-1712).

Venus fills the center of the portrait depicted in such a way that one might not notice that she's watching the viewer's gaze. It's a remarkable conceit, a scopophilic study as well as a sensuous masterpiece. The texturing of her skin and hair are executed with such care. The attendant's graceful appearance among and through the blonde locks creates psychological depth. Notice that Venus' earrings are, famously, different colors.

Titian's earlier (1555) treatment (Aphrodite1.0071_Titian) is similar in theme but less overt in the goddess' capture of the viewer's gaze; but, Velazquez's "Rokeby Venus" (Aphrodite1.0380_Velazquez), which postdates (1647-1651) by as much as Titian predates Rubens, pays equal attention to the goddess' attentive gaze.