Torso of Venus
Unknown Artist
1–200 CE
Medium
marble
Dimensions
h. 64.2 cm · with base: h. 78.8 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Dudley P. Allen Fund
Accession Number
1926.565
About this artwork
As avid collectors of Greek art, ancient Romans valued sculptures for their aesthetic qualities. This torso of Venus was likely inspired by the popularity of Praxiteles's nude Aphrodite from the Greek city-state of Knidos on the western coast of Asia Minor. Displayed in a circular shrine, it became one of the most celebrated sculptures in classical antiquity.