Pauline Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victrix, Domenico Marchetti, after Luigi Durantini, after Antonio Canova, 1816
engraving, h 395mm × w 549mm More details
Pauline Bonaparte was the sister of Emperor Napoleon and wife of the Italian prince Camillo Borghese. In 1802 the prince engaged Canova to immortalize his spouse in marble in honour of their marriage. Her reclining pose is classical, and she is semi-nude, just like Venus. The apple in her hand refers to the Judgement of Paris, who proclaimed Venus the most beautiful of the goddesses.
