Artwork
Psyche or Venus Standing
Psyche or Venus Standing is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Adriaen van der Werff. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Venus, the Roman goddess of love, presented as a standing nude figure in the mythological tradition.
The painting depicts Venus, the Roman goddess of love, presented as a standing nude figure in the mythological tradition. The dual title "Psyche or Venus Standing" reflects an interpretive ambiguity common in classical iconography, where the mortal lover Psyche, often portrayed with Venus-like attributes in later European art, could be conflated with the goddess herself. As a mythological painting, the work engages with the long-standing visual tradition of the Venus pudica or standing Venus, a type in which the goddess is shown in a contrapposto pose, her nudity softened by modest gesture, embodying ideals of beauty, love, and divine grace.
By titling the figure ambiguously as both Psyche and Venus, the work invites reflection on the merging of mortal and divine love in classical mythology, since Psyche's story culminates in her apotheosis and union with Cupid, effectively transforming her into a Venus-like being.
History & Provenance
The painting known as Psyche or Venus Standing was created by Adriaen van der Werff in 1748. This mythological work depicts the figure of Venus and is currently held within the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The artwork measures 215 cm in height and 155 cm in width.
While the specific commission details and earlier ownership chain are not detailed in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to the year 1748.
Overview
Adriaen van der Werff, a Dutch painter active in the mid‑18th century, completed the canvas titled Psyche or Venus Standing in 1748. Executed during the Rococo era, the work now belongs to the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. It presents a solitary female figure rendered with the polished finish characteristic of van der Werff’s mythological commissions.
Technique & Style
Van der Werff employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using a dark backdrop to isolate the luminous skin of the model. The light falls smoothly across her form, creating a subtle modelling that gives the illusion of three‑dimensional volume. The drapery and wing are rendered with fine, almost tactile detail, reflecting the refined, decorative sensibility of Rococo painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen van der Werff (21 January 1659 – 12 November 1722) was a Dutch painter of portraits and erotic, devotional and mythological scenes.
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