The Venus Of Milo

In the spring of 1820, on the Aegean island of Melos, an unsuspecting farmer was digging for marble building blocks when he unearthed the statue that would come to be known as the Venus de Milo. From the moment of its discovery a battle for possession ensued and was won, eventually, by the French. Touted by her keepers in the Louvre as the great classical find of the era, the sculpture gained instant celebrity–and yet its origins had yet to be documented or verified. From the flurry of excitement surrounding her discovery, to the raging disputes over her authenticity, to the politics and personalities that have given rise to her mystique, Gregory Curtis has given us a riveting look at the embattled legacy of a beloved icon and a remarkable tribute to one of the world’s great works of art.

Reproduction of the original: The Venus of Milo by Paul Carus

A classic work of art criticism that explores the history, controversies, and symbolism of the Venus de Milo, one of the most famous sculptures of ancient Greece. Illustrated with reproductions of the statue and other art objects, the book reflects on the meaning of beauty, the role of women in society, and the enduring appeal of classical art. Written in a lyrical and erudite style, it is a must-read for art lovers and classicists. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Written in 1912, "Venus" is sculptor Auguste Rodin's passionate ode to one of art's great masterpieces, the Venus de Milo, now in the Louvre Museum in Paris. This new, expanded edition of Rodin's unique text, also includes "The Dance of Shiva," Rodin's loose, written impressions of a bronze statue of the Hindu god Shiva. This is Dorothy Dudley's original, authorized English translation of "Venus" from 1912. "The Dance of Shiva" was newly translated by Tina A. Kover in 2009.

A cultural history of the goddess of love, from a New York Times bestselling and award-winning historian. Aphrodite was said to have been born from the sea, rising out of a froth of white foam. But long before the Ancient Greeks conceived of this voluptuous blonde, she existed as an early spirit of fertility on the shores of Cyprus -- and thousands of years before that, as a ferocious warrior-goddess in the Middle East. Proving that this fabled figure is so much more than an avatar of commercialized romance, historian Bettany Hughes reveals the remarkable lifestory of one of antiquity's most potent myths. Venus and Aphrodite brings together ancient art, mythology, and archaeological revelations to tell the story of human desire. From Mesopotamia to modern-day London, from Botticelli to Beyoncé, Hughes explains why this immortal goddess continues to entrance us today -- and how we trivialize her power at our peril.

This book delves into the history and archaeological study of the Venus de Milo, one of the most renowned works of ancient Greek sculpture. Created during the Hellenistic period, the statue is believed to depict the goddess of love, Aphrodite, or possibly the sea-goddess Amphitrite. Despite being missing both arms, the statue stands at an impressive 6 feet 8 inches and is made of Parian marble. Discovered in 1820 by a Greek farmer in a buried niche on the island of Milos, the Venus de Milo has captured the imaginations of art enthusiasts and scholars for centuries. This book provides a comprehensive examination of the statue's origins, creators, and historical context.

The Cave Painters is a vivid introduction to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain—the individuals who rediscovered them, theories about their origins, their splendor and mystery. Gregory Curtis makes us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings and tells us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people of some 40,000 years ago. He takes us through various theories—that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious purposes, or was clan mythology—examining the ways interpretations have changed over time. Rich in detail, personalities, and history, The Cave Painters is above all permeated with awe for those distant humans who developed—perhaps for the first time—both the ability for abstract thought and a profound and beautiful way to express it.