Wednesday, February 20, 2008

British Museum (2) : a dancer's Aphrodite



As a dancer, I can only be deeply moved by this Roman version of a Hellenistic Aphrodite (aka "Lely's Venus"), whose marble body is so exquisitely expressive. I took pictures of her from different angles, and though none includes her eyes or even her face, she does seem to tell us so much, doesn't she?
Whenever I'm at the British Museum, I make it a point to drop by the Greek statuary (an obsession that has increased with the major Praxiteles exhibition at the Louvre last year). I always feel reunited with long-lost friends.

19 comments:

Esti said...

Beautiful!

Iñaki said...

It is absolutely brilliant. Whenever I go to the British Museum, no matter what section I decide to dive into, I take a few minutes to go around it and be, once more, amazed.

xx

Anonymous said...

C'est super ce compte-rendu de ton petit parcours londonien, il y en a pour tous les goûts (art, mode, litt...). Mais, pardonne ma curiosité, tu es mi française-mi anglaise ?

pve design said...

Aphrodite almighty!
Lovely figure!

Joanna Goddard said...

oh my goodness, so beautiful. thank you for the inspiration, M-L. xoxo joanna

Laura Stockett Roberts said...

Such beautiful photos!

Anonymous said...

Le dos d'Aphrodite est magnifique. On dirait une sculture contemporaine. Tres beau cadre.

Cakespy said...

Oh, lovely. I am feeling some MAJOR wanderlust just looking at this, Mary-Laure!

yasu said...

Beautiful sculpture! I never really paid too much attention to those sculptures but I should have a look next time I go there!

artycho said...

How graceful! the last picture is abeautiful shot

marie said...

i love the cold smell of the stone in the sculpture rooms..there is nothing quite like wandering between works and trying to soak up all their beauty, they are so beautiful!

mansuetude said...

love the human body, especially a dancer's strength and care for motion in space.

Anonymous said...

You have taken beautiful pictures of these statues! You invite us to imagine what's missing, a wonderful exercise.

Ella Gregory said...

the British Museum is great
that is particually beautiful

ALL THE BEST said...

Wonderful photos and beautiful words. Thank you!

Elina said...

This looks really beautiful!

Lacey Jane said...

So jealous! This is beautiful!

Iñaki said...

I totally agree with you. I do like suits but only in very specific occasions. I feel it's me giving character to the clothes I'm wearing and not the other way around.
Have a nice weekend!

xx

Kiera said...

Wow, magnificent.
Those pictures really show the brilliance too! (nice photos)
Sounds fun! Never been....

xo,
Kiera