Duyker asserts that Kendrotas was taking stone from a ruined chapel on the edge of his property – terraced land that had once formed part of a Roman gymnasium – and that he discovered an oblong cavity some 1.2 x 1.5 metres deep in the volcanic tuff.
The Australian historian Edward Duyker, citing a letter written by Louis Brest who was the French consul in Milos in 1820, asserts the discoverer of the statue was Theodoros Kendrotas and that he has been confused with his younger son Giorgios (known phonetically as Yorgos) who later claimed credit for the find. He apparently based these assertions on an article he had read in the Century Magazine. It is generally asserted that the Venus de Milo was discovered on 8 April 1820 by a peasant named Yorgos Kentrotas, inside a buried niche within the ancient city ruins of Milos, the current village of Trypiti, on the island of Milos (also Melos, or Milo) in the Aegean, which was then a part of the Ottoman Empire.Įlsewhere the discoverers are identified as Yorgos Bottonis and his son Antonio. Paul Carus gave the site of discovery as “the ruins of an ancient theater in the vicinity of Castro, the capital of the island”, adding that Bottonis and his son “came accidentally across a small cave, carefully covered with a heavy slab and concealed, which contained a fine marble statue in two pieces, together with several other marble fragments”. The statue is named after the Greek island of Milos, where it was discovered. It is currently on permanent display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Part of an arm and the original plinth were lost following its discovery. Created sometime between 130 and 100 BC, the statue is believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty however, some scholars claim it is the sea-goddess Amphitrite, venerated on Milos. It is a marble sculpture, slightly larger than life size at 203 cm high. Initially it was attributed to the sculptor Praxiteles, but from an inscription that was on its plinth, the statue is thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch. The only one who has proclaimed otherwise was the painter Renoir, who defined it with little chivalry as being "Une grande gendarme"/"A fat policewoman".The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue and one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture. Throughout its history, it has received praise in every corner of the world. Most scholars agree on attributing it to Alexandros of Antioch, who would have made it around 130 BC.įUN FACT: this work is universally considered a wonderful expression of feminine charm. As you admire the softness of the shapes and the delicacy with which the light caresses it, remember that the name of its author is still immersed in mystery. Take time to admire this statue from every angle, as it has been placed in the center of the room to allow admirers to fully appreciate it. One of these theories ties the name of Milo Island to the word "apple" and to the famous myth of the judgment of Paris, who proclaimed Venus the most beautiful of the goddesses by giving her an apple of gold and in return receiving the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Elena. Unfortunately she no longer has arms: what gesture do you think she was making? Several ideas have been proposed. Her stern and somewhat round face is framed by wavy hair that is pulled back in a bun behind her neck. The rest of her naked body is turned slightly to the right. If you look closely, you'll notice that the figure's weight is placed on her right leg, while the left is slightly bent. Immersed in her thoughts, she releases sensuality along with a respectable vein that makes her even more fascinating.Īs you can see, the goddess is a bit taller than usual, 2 meters and 2 centimeters, and is standing with a naked chest and legs covered by drapes. The critics now agree that the character depicted is Venus, goddess of love and protector of lovers. He had it restored and presented it to King Louis XVIII, who bought it and placed it in the Louvre. The man was fascinated by it and hid it, but the statue was later discovered by Turkish soldiers and sold to a French officer who immediately understood that he was dealing with a masterpiece. "Our Lady of Beauty", as the German poet Heinrich Heine defined it, was found by a farmer in 1820 on Milo Island in the Cyclades archipelago. You're standing before Venus de Milo, one of the most famous sculptures of Hellenistic art and also one of the most impressive representations of feminine beauty.
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