Bronze Statuette of Venus with the Apple of Discord

Culture: Roman

Period: late 1st to early 2nd century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 11 cm high

Price: 8 000 Euro

Ref: 3692

Provenance: Collection Béla Hein (1883-1931), Paris. Thence with Fraysse et Associés in Paris on 6 June 2020, Los 197. There acquired from the collection Dr. Alex Brunet (1946-2022).

Condition: Unrestored, right hand missing since ancient times. Traces of silver inlays preserved. Overall, very attractive with beautiful age patina.

Description: Solid bronze statuette of the undressed Venus with the apple of discord in her left hand. The goddess stands in contrapposto, with the weight on her left leg, the right one is slightly bent, the foot elegantly put backward. Her hair is parted in the centre and pulled back to a bun in the back. Two long strands cascade left and right over her shoulders. Over her forehead is a decorated diadem. The deeply set hollowed eyes and nipples were once inlayed in silver, of which some traces are still preserved. The right, today missing hand, possibly once held a mirror. The apple in her left hand stands for the golden apple of discord, which the goddess Eris (Roman: Discordia) dropped amongst the goddesses with the note “for the most beautiful one”. Paris decided that this apple could only be for Aphrodite because she promised him in return Helena’s love, the most beautiful woman on earth. This was the main cause for the Trojan War. See for the type the statuette in the Harvard Art Museum with the object number 1971. 30. On an old wood base with three old collection labels.