Diego Velazquez's Oil Painting Analysis

301 Words2 Pages
This oil painting created in 1647 by Diego Velazquez illustrates the Goddess Venus laying down across a bed, gazing into a mirror being held up by an angel. The image of Venus differentiates from past classical representations of the Goddess. The most notable differences being the way the Venus is facing, and the lack of soft rounded curves. The female in the painting is more slender, and the painter accentuates the transition of her muscles. Additionally, her hair is in a bun opposed to flowing down across her. These traits make the Venus appear more human and bring the transcending quality of the idealization of beauty back down to earth. During the Spanish baroque, female nude paintings were a rarity, so this depiction of the Venus is not