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Art Story Bernini | Canova
Antonio Canova: Pauline Bonaparte as “Venus Victorious, Venus Victrix” at the Borghese Gallery in Rome
Antonio Canova (1757-1822) “Pauline Bonaparte Venus Victorious – Venus Victrix”
Marble statue (160 x 120 cm, bed 192 cm long) 1805
Canova Pauline Bonaparte Venus Victrix Pauline Bonaparte was the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Widowed by General Charles Leclerc in 1802, she married the Roman prince Camillo Borghese in 1803, who gave her the title of Roman princess, to which was added that of imperial princess after her brother's coronation in 1804.
When Napoleon was declared King of Italy, she obtained an additional title, that of Duchess of Guastalda in 1806.
Pauline died at the age of 44 from liver cancer in Florence and was buried in the Borghesiana Chapel of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.
Pauline Bonaparte: A Tumultuous Love Life
Canova Pauline Bonaparte Venus Victrix Her love life was most tumultuous: according to the memoirs of the Duchess of Abrantès, she could have up to three affairs at the same time!
Pauline was very proud of her beauty and had no fear of scandal, even though she was an imperial princess.
She was 24 years old when she did not hesitate to pose completely nude for the sculptor Antonio Canova so that he could sculpt her as Venus.
Her pose as “Victorious Venus” refers to ancient Rome and to the consul and Roman general Pompey, who worshipped “Venus Victrix” because he believed her to be the source of his success and military victories.
The Cult of Venus: From Pompey to Julius Caesar
Canova Pauline Bonaparte Venus Victrix Pompey was not the only one to worship Venus, since Julius Caesar had fought and defeated Pompey at Pharsalus, telling his troops that Venus Victrix was with them to bring them victory, the same Venus that Pompey honoured!
Julius Caesar claimed to be a descendant of Venus, but of Venus Genitrix, the mother goddess, who was indeed better suited to make people believe in his divine ancestry.
It was in honour of his divine ancestor that Julius Caesar had a temple to Venus built on the Roman Forum.
The Symbolism and Cult of Venus in Canova's Statue
These historical references were deliberately incorporated by Antonio Canova into this sculpture of Napoleon Bonaparte's sister to make a symbolic allusion to the military victories and prestige of the Emperor.
Canova Pauline Bonaparte Venus Victrix It was Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who became the goddess Venus in ancient Rome.
During the wedding of Thetis and Peleus on Mount Olympus, the goddess of discord, Eris, decided to take revenge for not being invited to the wedding by throwing a golden apple on which was written “for the fairest”, an apple that became the famous “apple of discord”.
Three goddesses fought over this apple of beauty: Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, and Hera, the goddess of marriage and fertility.
To end the quarrel between the three goddesses, Zeus (Jupiter) asked his messenger Hermes to take them to Mount Ida and task Paris, prince of Troy, with choosing the most beautiful among them.
But Aphrodite, goddess of love, had the good idea of promising Paris the love of the beautiful Helen. But Aphrodite, goddess of love, had the clever idea of promising Paris the love of the beautiful Helen if he chose her as the most beautiful.
This is how Aphrodite obtained the golden apple by being chosen as the most beautiful of the goddesses.
The Golden Apple of Love to affirm the Superior Beauty of Pauline Bonaparte
Canova Pauline Bonaparte Venus Victrix It is this golden apple that Pauline Bonaparte holds here in her left hand to recall the judgement of Paris, and thus publicly affirm the superiority of her beauty over that of other women of her time, hence the name of her statue: “Venus Victorious”.
She is softly reclining, supported by pillows that provide her right arm with a support allowing the delicate twist of her bust emphasised by the hollow and folds of her waist, the curve of her back reinforced by the shaded line of her spine, and her left arm casually resting on her hip.
An aesthetic effect whose beauty and soft curves can be appreciated from both the front and the back.
From the neckline at shoulder level, the clear lines and curves of her bust are perfect.
Canova Pauline Bonaparte This statue by Canova was first exhibited in the residence of Prince Borghese in Turin until 1814.
After Napoleon's fall, the statue of Pauline Borghese Bonaparte was sent by ship from Genoa to Rome to be displayed at the Borghese Palace, much to the delight of famous foreigners visiting Rome.
This statue was the object of true idolatry, to such an extent that crowds flocked to admire it day and night, with the Victorious Venus surrounded by candles that gave the white marble a flesh-like colour, bringing it to life.
Canova Pauline Bonaparte It was so successful that access to the statue had to be restricted to a limited number of visitors.
And so the beauty of Pauline Borghese had the chance to become immortal.
The pedestal of this statue by Canova is also interesting and innovative.
In fact, this pedestal conceals an ingenious mechanism that allows the statue to rotate on its axis so that it can be viewed from the front or the back, depending on where you are standing in the room.
In 1953, lion paws were added to the base of the statue. A questionable addition.
Art Story Bernini | Canova
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