The Tinted Venus by John Gibson

The Tinted Venus by Pietro Tenerani

C. 1863

Color Chromolithograph

The controversial aesthetic of polychrome Neoclassical sculpture defines the subject of this original 1863 color chromolithograph. Titled "The Tinted Venus," the composition documents a celebrated marble masterpiece by the British sculptor John Gibson. The print captures the full-length goddess standing in a classical contrapposto stance upon a circular pedestal, her left hand gathering a length of cascading drapery while her right hand balances a golden apple. Produced by the prominent British printing firm Day and Son, who served as Lithographers to the Queen, this vibrant plate was published as Plate 101 within the ambitious three-volume compilation Masterpieces of Industrial Art and Sculpture at the International Exhibition, 1862.

This work was originally produced as a standalone plate for a comprehensive publication documenting the grandest achievements of the 1862 London International Exhibition. During the mid-nineteenth century, the booming global phenomenon of World's Fairs fueled an intense desire among European publishers to preserve and distribute rare cultural artifacts using newly advanced printing methods. Day and Son became highly celebrated for their exceptional ability to translate the complex textures of historic objects, three-dimensional marbles, and industrial designs into fine commercial print media. This print represents the golden age of British chromolithography, capturing Tenerani's celebrated Neoclassical sculpture with rich, oil-like ink layers that made premier international fine art accessible to Victorian collectors and institutions across the globe.

Dimensions: H 16 ½”x 11 ½”W

Condition:Some foxing