The Venus of Martres is a sculpture fragment from an antique replica of the Aphrodite of Knidos. The replica was made around the first century of the common era. It is on display at Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse, France.
History The Venus of Martres was discovered in 1826 at Chiragan villa in Martres-Tolosane. It is currently on display on the first floor of Musée Saint-Raymond as exhibit Ra 52 (formerly Inv. 30328).
Description The Venus of Martres consists of a marble head in good general condition, although the tip of the nose is damaged. The shape of the neck indicates it might have been part of a bust or of a full-size statue. The hair is held in place by a ribbon that circles the head twice and shapes it into a bun. The face is slightly asymmetrical.
In his 1828 catalogueDumège, 1828, pp. 30-31 Alexandre Dumège identifies the fragment as representing Venus:
In 1865, Ernest RoschachRoschach, 1865, p. 52 instead identifies it to a depiction of Diana:
Notes and references
Exhibitions Musées en balade, Musée archéologique d'Eauze, November–December 1997
Bibliography
External links Notice de la Vénus de Martres sur le site du musée Saint-Raymond