Venus, Elias de Witte (attributed to), c. 1570

bronze (metal), h 14cm × w 2.5cm × d 2.5cm More details

In the 18th century this small Venus was at the Museo Ridolfini-Corazzi in Cortona (Italy), a renowned collection of Etruscan and Roman art. It was then considered an ancient Roman statuette, but is now attributed to the Fleming Elias de Witte, who worked in Florence. By omitting the arms and roughening the surface, he deliberately gave Venus the appearance of an excavated Roman bronze figurine.