Why it matters
Cabanel's sensual goddess exemplifies the graceful forms and classical subjects valued by the conservative French Salon. Shown to great success at the Salon of 1863, it was immediately bought by Napoleon III for his personal collection.
Did you know?
- It was painted in 1863.
- That year Cabanel became a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts.
- Later versions are in the Dahesh Museum and the Metropolitan Museum.
Based on the Wikipedia article The Birth of Venus (Cabanel) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
