Titles

Only two titles have been suggested:

• 'The Venus' (1869/1873], Whistler). 1
• 'Venus Rising from the Sea' (1980, YMSM). 2

'Venus Rising from the Sea' is the preferred title.

Description

Venus Rising from the Sea, Freer Gallery of Art

A figure study in vertical format. A nude woman stands with hands behind her back. Her weight rests on her left leg, and her right leg is bent, slightly forward. She turns slightly to her right, and appears to be looking down. She is on a beach, which runs diagonally from lower left to right behind her. The sea is a pale blue/green, edged with white ripples along the beach. The horizon line is high on the canvas, the sky pale grey. There is blossom on some branches at upper right.

Sitter

Unidentified.

Comments

Venus, Freer Gallery of Art

Other 'Venus' subjects include a cartoon, Venus [M.0357], two oils, Venus [YMSM 082] (reproduced above), and Venus [YMSM 548], and a drawing, Venus and Cupid [M.1699].