62 Questions
What was unusual about the depiction of Venus in The Rokeby Venus?
She was shown as a brunette
What is the significance of the ribbons draped over the mirror in The Rokeby Venus?
They were used to bind lovers together
Why was The Rokeby Venus initially described as 'a nude woman' when it was first inventoried?
It was considered controversial due to its erotic nature
What is the significance of the folds of the bed sheets in The Rokeby Venus?
They echo the goddess's physical form
What is the dominant color scheme used in The Rokeby Venus?
Shades of red, white, and grey
What is the identity of the model thought to have been used for The Rokeby Venus?
Unknown, and subject to much speculation
What is the significance of Cupid holding a mirror in The Rokeby Venus?
It is a literary and visual erotic motif
Where was The Rokeby Venus hung until 1813?
The houses of Spanish courtiers
What is the underlying meaning of The Rokeby Venus, according to critic Natasha Wallace?
It is a representation of self-absorbed beauty
How many other nudes by Velázquez are recorded in 17th-century Spanish inventories?
Three
What was the general attitude towards artists using nude models in contemporary Spain?
Male nude models were acceptable, but female models were frowned upon
Where is it believed that Velázquez painted the Rokeby Venus?
In Rome
What is a theory about the identity of the female model in the Rokeby Venus?
She was a mistress of Velázquez who bore his child
What changes were made to the figures of Venus and Cupid during the painting process?
The figures of both Venus and Cupid were significantly altered
What is notable about the area on the left of the painting, extending from Venus's left foot to the left leg and foot of Cupid?
It is an unfinished area of the painting
What was the result of the 1965-66 restoration of the Rokeby Venus?
The painting was found to be in good condition with little added paint
Which artistic influences can be seen in the Rokeby Venus?
Only Italian and Venetian artists
What is unique about the depiction of Venus in the Rokeby Venus?
She is depicted from the back
What classical sculptures may have influenced Velázquez's depiction of Venus?
The Sleeping Ariadne and the Borghese Hermaphroditus
What may have been the intended pairing for the Rokeby Venus?
A sixteenth-century Venetian painting of a recumbent Venus in a landscape
What was the general attitude towards the portrayal of nudes in 17th-century Spain?
It was officially discouraged but tolerated in private circles
What was the reaction of the Inquisition to works of art that were deemed licentious or immoral?
They were seized and repainting was demanded
Who was the king that held a number of nudes by Titian and Rubens in his collection?
King Philip IV
Where did King Philip IV keep his nudes, including the Titian poesies?
In the room where His Majesty retires after eating
What was the title of the anonymous pamphlet published in 1632 that argued against the display of nude paintings?
A Copy of the Opinions and Censorship
What was the suggestion made by Fray Hortensio Félix Paravicino in his piece about nude paintings?
They should be destroyed
What was the attitude towards nude paintings in northern Europe during the 17th century?
They were accepted and depicted in art
What was the typical depiction of the female form in 17th-century Spanish art?
It was always chastely covered
What was the consequence for artists who painted licentious or immoral works in 17th-century Spain?
They were excommunicated, fined, or banished from Spain for a year
What was the unique aspect of the Spanish attitude towards nude paintings in Europe during the 17th century?
They were tied up with concepts of morality, power, and aesthetics
What was a rare feature in paintings of Spanish females from the 1630s and 1640s?
Exposed breasts
Why did Peter Cherry suggest Velázquez portrayed Venus from the back?
To overcome the requirement for modesty
Who owned the Rokeby Venus before it was sold to Gaspar Méndez de Haro in 1652?
Domingo Guerra Coronel
What was notable about the ownership of the Rokeby Venus by Gaspar Méndez de Haro?
He was a notorious libertine
Why did the art critic Javier Portús suggest that Velázquez's name was omitted from Coronel's inventory?
The painting's portrayal of a female nude was problematic
When did the Rokeby Venus pass from the collection of Gaspar Méndez de Haro to his daughter?
After Haro's death
Who stole the Rokeby Venus from the Godoy palace?
Napoleon's soldiers
What was notable about the way Morritt displayed the Rokeby Venus?
He hung it above his main fireplace
What is the likely period of the Rokeby Venus's creation?
The late 1640s or early 1650s
What is the significance of the Rokeby Venus in relation to Velázquez's later work?
It marks the beginning of his final period
What is the title under which the painting by Diego Velázquez was originally known?
The Mirror's Venus
Where is the painting 'The Rokeby Venus' currently located?
National Gallery, London
Which artist's work was a precedent for Velázquez's depiction of Venus?
Giorgione's Sleeping Venus
What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where Venus appears to be looking at herself in the mirror?
The Venus Effect
In what year was the 'Rokeby Venus' painted?
Between 1647 and 1651
What is unique about Velázquez's depiction of Venus?
Venus is shown with her back facing the viewer
What was the price of the Rokeby Venus when it was purchased by John Morritt in England?
£500
Who anonymously provided £8,000 towards the purchase of the Rokeby Venus for the National Gallery?
King Edward VII
Where was the Rokeby Venus first exhibited in 1857?
The Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition
What was the reason behind Mary Richardson's vandalism of the Rokeby Venus in 1914?
She was protesting the arrest of fellow suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst
Who repaired the Rokeby Venus after it was vandalized by Mary Richardson in 1914?
Helmut Ruhemann
What was unique about Velázquez's depiction of Venus in the Rokeby Venus?
It was a depiction of Venus as a reclining nude viewed from the rear
Who was the first owner of the Rokeby Venus in England?
John Morritt
What was the reaction to Manet's Olympia when it was first exhibited in 1863?
It shocked the Parisian art world
Why was the Rokeby Venus not widely imitated by other artists until recently?
Because it was censored and not widely available
What was the result of the National Art Collections Fund's first campaigning triumph in 1906?
The purchase of the Rokeby Venus for the National Gallery
What was Mary Richardson's reason for destroying the picture of the most beautiful woman in mythological history?
She wanted to draw attention to the Government's treatment of Mrs. Pankhurst
How was the attack on the painting perceived by journalists at the time?
As a physical assault on a woman
What is the symbolic significance of the incident, according to Lynda Nead?
A stereotypical image of feminism
What was the target of the 2023 attack on the painting?
The UK Government's policy on oil and gas
How did Mary Richardson's actions come to be perceived?
As a criminal act of vandalism
What is the significance of the painting in modern history, according to Mary Richardson?
It is a representation of Mrs. Pankhurst's beauty
Study Notes
The Rokeby Venus Painting
- Painted by Diego Velázquez between 1647 and 1651, probably during his visit to Italy
- Depicts the Roman goddess Venus reclining on a bed, with her back to the viewer, and looking into a mirror held by Cupid, her son
- Unique in its portrayal of Venus from a back view, without mythological paraphernalia, and with no jewels, roses, or myrtle
- Venus is a brunette, unlike typical blond depictions of the goddess
- The reflection in the mirror shows a blurred, vague image of Venus's face, sparking debate over the painting's meaning
Contextual Significance
- One of the few surviving nudes by Velázquez, with three others recorded in 17th-century Spanish inventories
- Painted during a time when nudes were discouraged in 17th-century Spain, and could be seized or repainted by the Inquisition
- Despite this, the painting was collected by the Spanish elite, including King Philip IV and Gaspar Méndez de Haro, 7th Marquis of Carpio
- Hung in private rooms, such as the King's "room where His Majesty retires after eating"
Composition and Symbolism
- Uses shades of red, white, and grey, with Venus's skin rendered in luminescent colors
- The folds of the bed sheets echo the curves of Venus's body
- The mirror and Cupid's presence allude to the mythological significance of Venus and beauty
- The pink silk ribbons draped over the mirror have sparked debate over their symbolism, with suggestions including allusions to Cupid's fetters and blindness to beauty
Provenance and History
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Originally owned by Gaspar Méndez de Haro, 7th Marquis of Carpio, and later sold to Manuel de Godoy in 1802
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Stolen during the Napoleonic invasion of Spain, and later brought to England in 1813
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Purchased by the National Art Collections Fund for the National Gallery, London in 1906
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Has undergone restoration and conservation efforts, with a notable attack in 1914 and 2023### The Rokeby Venus
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The Rokeby Venus is a painting by Spanish artist Diego Velázquez, created in 1647-1651
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In 1813, the painting was offered to wealthy English collectors by Buchanan, along with 23 other top paintings from Spanish collections
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The painting was purchased by John Morritt in 1813 for £500 (approximately £41,000 in 2024)
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Morritt hung the painting in his house at Rokeby Park, Yorkshire, where it got its popular name
Legacy and Influence
- Velázquez's work was overlooked until the mid-19th century, and therefore, he found no followers and was not widely imitated
- The painting's visual and structural innovations were not developed by other artists until recently, due to censorship
- The painting remained in private collections until it was exhibited in 1857 at the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition
- It was not copied, engraved, or reproduced until the mid-19th century
- The painting became globally well-known through reproductions after it was exhibited in the National Gallery in 1906
Controversies and Vandalism
- The painting's authenticity was questioned by some artists and critics, with William Blake Richmond suggesting it was not by Velázquez
- James Grieg hypothesized that it was by Anton Raphael Mengs, and others suggested it was by Juan del Mazo
- On 10 March 1914, suffragette Mary Richardson attacked the painting with a meat cleaver, leaving seven slashes
- The attack was seen as a protest against the Government's treatment of Emmeline Pankhurst and the objectification of women
- The painting was restored, and Richardson was sentenced to six months' imprisonment
- On 6 November 2023, the painting was attacked again by two Just Stop Oil activists, demanding an end to new oil and gas licenses in the UK
Explore the details of Diego Velázquez's masterpiece, The Rokeby Venus, a painting from the Spanish Golden Age. Learn about its composition, history, and significance. Discover the beauty and symbolism behind this iconic artwork.
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