Venus Verticordia Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)

The composition presents a female figure centrally positioned against a dense backdrop of roses and other flowering plants. Her pose is frontal, yet her gaze directs itself slightly downwards and to one side, creating a sense of introspection or perhaps melancholy. The womans hair, a cascade of auburn waves, frames her face and falls across her shoulders, contributing to an overall impression of languid beauty. A golden halo encircles her head, suggesting divinity or elevated status.
She holds in her hands an apple impaled by an arrow. The arrow’s shaft is adorned with yellow ribbons, softening the potential violence of its penetration into the fruit. This gesture appears deliberate and symbolic; the apple, a traditional emblem of temptation and knowledge, is presented not as something to be rejected but rather engaged with, albeit in a vulnerable state.
The color palette is dominated by warm tones – reds, oranges, and golds – which contribute to an atmosphere of richness and sensuality. The dark background serves to accentuate the figure’s luminosity and draws attention to her features. The roses surrounding her are not merely decorative; their abundance suggests themes of love, beauty, and perhaps even fleetingness, given the flowers association with mortality.
The woman’s expression is complex. While there is a degree of serenity in her features, a subtle sadness or resignation seems present. This ambiguity invites interpretation regarding her role – is she a goddess presiding over matters of the heart? A figure embodying temptation and its consequences? Or perhaps an allegory for loves power to wound as well as delight? The ribbons on the arrow suggest a playful element, hinting at a more nuanced understanding of desire and its effects.
The overall effect is one of poignant beauty tinged with melancholy, suggesting a contemplation of complex emotions related to love, temptation, and fate.