Giorgione - Sleeping Venus (1510)

• Title: Sleeping Venus (Venere dormiente)
• Artist: Giorgione (c.1475-1510)
• Date: 1510
• Made in: Venice, Italy
• Medium: Oil on canvas
• Dimensions: 109 × 175 cm
• Location: Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden, Germany
• Photo credit: Google Arts & Culture on Wikipedia

Giorgione’s “Sleeping Venus” depicts the reclining figure of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, in a state of sleep.

Venus lies naked on a bed of white sheets against a lush landscape backdrop. Her body is sensuously rendered with soft curves and delicate features, emphasizing her beauty and femininity. Her pose is relaxed, with one arm draped gracefully over her head while the other rests by her side, hiding her mons pubis.

One of the most striking aspects of the painting is its dreamlike atmosphere. The landscape is bathed in a soft, diffused light that lends the scene an ethereal quality. This atmospheric effect adds to the overall sense of intimacy and tranquility, inviting viewers into a world of quiet contemplation.

Unlike earlier representations that emphasized Venus’s divine attributes and symbolic associations with love and beauty, Giorgione’s Venus appears more human and relatable. She is not idealized or goddess-like but instead embodies a sense of naturalness and vulnerability, making her all the more captivating to the viewer.

• On Wikipedia: Giorgione - Sleeping Venus