Venere, a photo from Viterbo, Lazio

Photographer's Note

Venus - Sacro Bosco - Bomarzo (VT)

The Sacro Bosco, better known as the Park of Monsters for the presence of grotesque sculptures scattered in a surreal landscape, is the oldest sculpture park in the modern world.
It was designed by the architect Pirro Ligorio, famous for completing St. Peter's after Michelangelo's death, commissioned by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini, known as Vicino.
Orsini had the park "Sol to vent the heart" built and dedicated it to the memory of his beloved wife, Giulia Farnese, not to be confused with the more famous and dissolute concubine of Pope Alexander VI Borgia of the same name.
The female deity, interpreted by some as the Egyptian Isis, most likely depicts the Greek Roman Goddess Venus. She is placed inside a vaulted room, of which today the left side is totally missing and the roof, which collapsed over the years, is placed above a shell. It has a hole in the navel from where in the past a jet of water had to gush. Other similar holes were arranged all around the statue so that the image was completely immersed in a veil of water that flowed over it and filled a basin at the foot of the statue. She is dressed like an ancient Roman matron, but she has the features of the women of Tuscia.

ikeharel, pierrefonds, Fis2, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

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ikeharel (114535) 2022-06-17 5:42

Ciao Silvio,
Notable the times past, teeth of nature shown upon the statue and its frame, as you maentioned in the note.
Nonetheless, a fine picture managed under shadows.
Arrivederci,
Ike

pierrefonds (115488) 2022-06-17 6:03

Hi Silvio,

Les branches cadrent bien la sculpture. The prise de vue permet de voir les d閠ails de la sculpture. La lumi鑢e rehausse les couleurs de l'image. Bonne journ閑.

Pierre

Fis2 (171877) 2022-06-17 6:32

Witaj Silvio!
Another interesting sculpture, view makes impression.
Good POV, sharpness and light.
Well done.
Good afternoon.
Krzysztof

holmertz (103584) 2022-06-17 6:43

Hello Silvio,
The most normal sculpture so far from this park. It's a nice work, and the light was favourable in this place. It would have been fun to see water flowing from her navel.
Best regards,
Gert

Tue (93374) 2022-06-17 9:57

Hello Silvio,
An excellent photo of this fountain and the sculpture of Venus, nicely seen in the shades. The contrast with the sunlit leaves at left is very nice as well. I like the calm and peaceful mood.
Lars

jmdias (116405) 2022-06-17 11:44

silvio

even damaged the sculpture is very interesting. curious the shell with the shapes like a bat wings.

take care

jorge

lousat (139960) 2022-06-17 13:41

Ciao Silvio,sono presissimo,perfetta anche questa nonostante la luce difficile! Buon weekend caldo,Luciano

ifege (49363) 2022-06-17 22:13

Hi Silvio
This one almost looks like a conventional sculptrue until you look at the base. Another good interesting one.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (117726) 2022-06-17 22:39

Hello dear Silvio and have a nice day
and a happy evening
another week arrived to the end...
my question here is ...how many
sculptures this place has????
may be the light is not so good...
but in general lines this statue
is worth seeing
regards
Costantino

mkamionka (75079) 2022-06-17 22:42

Ciao Silvio,
ONe more interesting sculpture from this interesting walk.
Some details are striking, obviously the location of the hole is quite particular -it seems like the belly button.
The base of the sculpture is quite decorative as well.
Very well done,
M

jemaflor (148180) 2022-06-17 23:27

Hi Silvio,
a statue well photographed, interesting, good management for sharpness and light, tfs.

emka (158744) 2022-06-17 23:55

Ciao Silvio, Another nice sculpture. Is it a fountain? Lovely light. Have a nice day

MAlgo

pajaran (117001) 2022-06-18 8:03

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
lep skulptura Venere i detalji, dobro pokaznao sa lepim bojama i kontrastom.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.
Dobar rad satrog umetnika.

Zelim vam lepo popodne, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja

ChrisJ (172408) 2022-06-20 0:13

Ciao Silvio,

A lovely secluded fountain in this niche of the wall, with good sharpness and lighting. So this park is where Pirro Ligorio honed his skills before moving on to the Vatican. Tfs!

mcmtanyel (69165) 2022-06-24 20:28

Hello Silvio,
Hmm, having just visited some sculpture parks in CO, I have an increased respect for this oldest sculpture park. It is a shame that this particular piece suffered some damage.
Regards,
MT