gandalf1202: Dante Gabriel Rossetti - Venus Verticordia [1863-68] on Flickr. The title, Venus, turne

gandalf1202: Dante Gabriel Rossetti - Venus Verticordia [1863-68] on Flickr. The title, Venus, turner of hearts, derives from Latin literature, where it designates the role of Venus, goddess of love and beauty, in turning women’s hearts towards virtue. However, Rossetti interpreted it in the opposite sense, to mean turning men’s hearts away from fidelity. This is evident in his sonnet for the picture. The roses, honeysuckle, apple and nude figure all contribute to the theme of love and sexuality. This is almost the only example of a nude in Rossetti’s work. However, in the later 1860s a number of English artists began to experiment with the nude figure. Rossetti’s painting, designed as early as 1863, was among the first in this remarkable Victorian revival of the nude. [Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth - Oil on canvas, 83.8 x 71.2 cm] -- source link

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