Statue of Aphrodite Anadyomene (Cyrene Type)
Artist
Unknown
Datelate 1st century BCE–2nd century CE
MediumMarble
Dimensionsheight, width, and depth: 71 3/8 x 20 1/4 x 20 in. (181.3 x 51.4 x 50.8 cm)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LinePurchased with funds from the State of North Carolina and the North Carolina State Art Society (Robert F. Phifer Bequest), 1980; and dedicated in memory of Dr. Mary Ellen Soles, curator of ancient art (1982–2010) by the NCMA Board of Trustees, 2018
Object numberG.80.9.1
On View
On viewAccording to myth, the Greek goddess Aphrodite, known to the Romans as Venus, was born from the sea, alluded to in this statue by the dolphin beside her leg. Originally her right arm was bent at the elbow, her hand holding a strand of hair falling to her breast, where a trace of hair is still visible. Her left arm was also probably bent to the elbow to hold a lock tucked behind her left ear. There are many existing examples of this type of Aphrodite, known by the Greek term Anadyomene (rising from the sea).
A marble statue of Aphrodite similar to this one was discovered in 1913 during excavations of the Baths of Trajan in Cyrene, a city in North Africa, thus giving her name to this type.ProvenanceProvenience unknown [1]. B. Feurer, Rome and Geneva [2]. [Jeanette G. Brun, Zurich] [3]; [Christoph F. Leon, Basel, Switzerland, by 1979]; sold to NCMA, 1980.
[1] Reportedly excavated near Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, and brought to Rome.; B. Feurer, Rome and Geneva (Per Leon, see "Aphrodite of Cyrene: Remarks on a life-size marble statue" by Leon (dated March 23, 1979) and sent to Moussa Domit with accompanying handwritten note dated June 29, 1979).
[2] Per Leon, in above mentioned "Remarks." No details provided about the collector.
[3] Per Leon, also in above mentioned "Remarks."Published ReferencesLa Chronique des Arts (Supplement a la Gazette des Beaux-Arts), no. 144 (March 1981), 27, illus.
Edgar Peters Bowron, ed., Introduction to the Collections (Chapel Hill: published for the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, by The University of North Carolina Press, 1983), illus. (b-w) 56.
Mary Ellen Soles, "Tradition and Innovation: A Statue of Aphrodite," North Carolina Museum of Art Bulletin 14, no. 4 (1990), 11-18 , illus. (b-w) 11, (b-w detail) 15.
Charles Salter, Jr., "Piece de resistance," Raleigh: The News and Observer (March 27, 1991), 1D, 3D, illus. 1D.
M. E. S. [Mary Ellen Soles], "Restoration Hints at Statue's Original Appearance," North Carolina Museum of Art Preview (Autumn 1991), 15-16, illus. (b-w) 15, also illus. being conserved (b-w) 16.
Introduction to the Collections, rev. ed. (Raleigh: North Carolina Museum of Art, 1992), illus. (b-w) 26.
Mary Ellen Soles, entry for Aphrodite of Cyrene, in North Carolina Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections, Rebecca Martin Nagy, ed. (Raleigh: North Carolina Museum of Art, 1998), 33, illus. (color).
Mary Ellen Soles, entry for Aphrodite of Cyrene, in North Carolina Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections, rev. ed. (Raleigh: North Carolina Museum of Art, 2010), 64, illus. (color) 65.
North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection," (Raleigh, NC; North Carolina Museum of Art, 2024), illus. (color) 66.Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–present. Object Rights Statement
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