The Tinted Venus (detail) 1862

John Gibson's "The Tinted Venus" (1862) is a marble sculpture depicting the Roman goddess Venus, the personification of love, beauty, and desire. Gibson, a British sculptor known for his Neoclassical style, uses a smooth, polished surface to highlight the sensuality of the figure. Venus is shown standing, her body gracefully draped in a flowing robe, holding a gilded apple, a symbol of her beauty and power. The sculpture's delicate features and idealized form reflect the idealized beauty prevalent in Neoclassical art.