Venus of Arles, Louvre, Sully 344 (Classical and Hellenistic Greek Art)

 The Louvre houses an extraordinary collection of art, unmatched by any other museum. Among its treasures is the Greek and Roman art collection, which is nothing short of spectacular. One notable piece in this collection is the Venus of Arles.

 The Venus looks down at a mirror at an angle, exuding an authentic sense of beauty. Her neatly arranged hair suggests a calm and thoughtful demeanor, while her delicate right fingers gently touch a small apple, evoking grace and precision. The apple appears almost weightless, as though she handles it with the utmost care.

 The intricate folds of her clothing add another layer of artistry, creating an illusion of transparency around her legs and subtly revealing her slender form. The way the fabric’s folds seem to flow across her smooth body enhances the sculpture's lifelike quality.

 Her left hand, holding the handle of the mirror, is equally composed, reflecting a sense of order and serenity that resonates with the statue's overall harmony. The Venus of Arles is a masterpiece that embodies the ideals of physical beauty while conveying a profound sense of inner tranquility.

 This sculpture stands at an impressive 1.9 meters tall and dates back to the 1st century BC. It was discovered in several pieces in 1651, during excavations at the Roman theater in Arles, a coastal city in southern France. The head was found first, buried at a depth of 1.8 meters. The sculpture was restored with the addition of hands and subsequently presented to Louis XIV to decorate the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. During the French Revolution, it was moved to the Louvre, where it remains one of the museum’s most celebrated works.