Animations:

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Starting June 3
Exhibitions & Events
Featured event:

Block Party
Join us June 6
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Starting June 3
Exhibitions & Events
Featured event:

Block Party
Join us June 6
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Birth of Venus

c. 1710

Sir James Thornhill

Associated Names

Sir James Thornhill

Artist, British, 1675 - 1734

The image consists of swirling lines and curved shapes that create an abstract scene with human-like figures. Some figures are seated while others appear to be in motion against a cloud-like backdrop. The composition conveys a sense of a celestial gathering, with the figures floating in the airy environment.

Download

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

Medium

pen and brown ink with gray wash on laid paper
Credit Line

Julius S. Held Collection, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Dimensions

overall: 16 x 20.1 cm (6 5/16 x 7 15/16 in.)
Accession Number

1984.3.64

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Julius S. Held

Associated Names

Held, Julius S., Professor

Exhibition History

1966

17th & 18th Century European Drawings, (American Federation of the Arts) National Gallery of Art, Washington and tour, 1966-1967, no. 24.

1970

Selections from the Drawing Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Julius S. Held, University Art Gallery, Binghamton; traveling exhibition, 1970, no. 13.

1979

Master Drawings from the Collection of Ingrid and Julius S. Held, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown; traveling exhibition, 1979, no. 23, as Allegorical Sea Triumph.

1987

English Drawings and Watercolors, 1630-1850, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1987-1988, no cat.

Bibliography

1966

AFA 1966, 24.

Watermarks

C (or G?)...AW

Wikidata ID

Q64631938

You may be interested in