Artwork

The Awakening of Venus

The Awakening of Venus, by Louis-Marin Bonnet, pastel, 1769
The Awakening of Venus, by Louis-Marin Bonnet, pastel, 1769

The Awakening of Venus is a pastel print by the Romanticist artist Louis-Marin Bonnet. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription
Inscribed:by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 92/712/2

About this work

Overview

The Awakening of Venus is a print created by Louis-Marin Bonnet in 1769, exemplifying the artist's work in pastel manner printing.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a reclining female figure, likely Venus, on a rocky shoreline, surrounded by symbols such as a flower garland and a bird, evoking a mythological or allegorical scene.

Technique & Style

Produced using pastel manner printing in multiple colors on blue paper, the image achieves a soft, dreamy quality, with delicate strokes suggesting movement in the drapery and surrounding environment.

History & Provenance

Dated to 1769, The Awakening of Venus is a representative work by Louis-Marin Bonnet, a practitioner of pastel manner printing, a technique that mimics the effect of pastel drawing.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Louis-Marin Bonnet

Artist

Louis-Marin Bonnet

Louis-Marin Bonnet (1736–1793) was a French artist, born in Paris.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Awakening of Venus?

The Awakening of Venus was painted by Louis-Marin Bonnet in 1769.

Where can I see The Awakening of Venus?

The Awakening of Venus is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Awakening of Venus?

The Awakening of Venus is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of The Awakening of Venus?

Museum-quality prints of The Awakening of Venus are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.