Statue of Venus (Anadyomene Type)

Artist: Unknown Roman artist
Date: 1st century AD
Material: Marble
Location: J. Paul Getty Museum
Object Number: 70.AA.114

Description

This Roman statue shows Venus Anadyomene, or “Venus Rising from the Sea.” She’s depicted nude, wringing water from her hair—a direct reference to her mythic birth from the sea foam. Her stance is relaxed yet elegant, with soft, flowing contours and a contrapposto pose that balances grace and sensuality.

The Anadyomene type (from the Greek word for “emerging”) traces back to a lost Greek original by Apelles, one of the most famous painters of antiquity. Roman sculptors often reinterpreted this theme in marble, turning a 2D masterpiece into a 3D icon of divine beauty.

Key Features

• Pose: One arm raised, likely wringing out hair (though the arms are now missing).

• Expression: Calm and idealized, capturing divine femininity.

• Form: Soft modeling of the torso and hips, with balanced proportions.

• Symbolism: Represents love, rebirth, and the sea—Venus at her most iconic.

Museum Context

This sculpture was acquired by the Getty in 1970. It’s a highlight of the museum’s Roman collection and offers insight into how Romans adopted and adapted Greek myth and aesthetics into their own visual culture.