However, these asymmetries were common in controls so a conclusion for a head tilt indicative of a craniospinal deformity could not be made. The most important asymmetries found were that the left eye was closer to the midline than the right and the pupils were not on the same horizontal line. Interestingly, Henke is also remembered eponymously for Henke’s space or the retropharyngeal space.Ĭhristoph Hasse, von Henke’s colleague and a fellow at the anatomical institute at the University of Breslau, also performed a study in 1886 where he investigated the face of the Venus de Milo and compared to controls. Henke also reported that the two lines connecting the pupils and both lateral ends of the lips were neither perpendicular nor parallel to the nose. These observations suggested that the model for the statue limped in life and possibly had a spinal deformity. In 1886, the German anatomist Philipp Jakob Wilhelm von Henke (1834-1896) from the University of Tübingen observed that the pelvis of the Venus was oblique, and that her legs were different lengths. It was also noted that the midline of the statue’s face was displaced slightly and although other Hellenistic statues displayed subtle asymmetries, the Venus’s were more profound. Īn analysis of the Venus de Milo by Goeler von Ravensburg found that the piece represented such outstanding naturalistic art that it was most likely created with the aid of a living model. According to Lethaby, the Venus de Milo probably leaned her arm onto a pillar when first created. Others hypothesize that the right arm extended inferiorly across the stomach toward the left, and that a hole beneath the right breast may have once held a tenon to support the weight of the right arm. Some research suggests that the right hand held her clothes while the left arm rested on a pillar. The Venus appears to be slightly bent over while lifting her thigh, as though attempting to prevent her garment from sliding down her leg. The statue’s head and upper body are turned slightly toward the left. When assembled, the two halves of the sculpture met in an almost horizontal line, purposefully covered by a roll of garment around the hips. The larger than life-sized statue stands 6’7” tall. Īnatomy of the statue and potential spinal deformity Since its arrival to France, the statue has been the absolute emblem of classical beauty. The king donated the statue to the Louvre Museum in Paris where it is still on display today. The statue was given as a gift to Louis XVIII, king of France in 1820. Shortly after discovery, the statue was bought from Mahmud II, the Ottoman Emperor, for 550 francs (about $50) by the French ambassador Marquis de Rivie`re. Among these was thought to be the left hand holding an apple, an upper arm and a piece of the plinth (base of the sculpture), where the sculptor Agesandros (Alexandros) of Antioch had carved his name. It is reported that some of the fragments recovered with the statue were shipped to France but went missing soon after arrival at the Louvre. The Venus’s left hand was discovered with the fragments but was never attached to the body because it was less finished than other parts. įurther digging revealed a base, and numerous loose marble fragments, including small pieces of drapery and hair that had also broken off. There was evidence of prior restoration on the hip to replace larger pieces that had broken off. These included scratches on its brow, nose, chin, and missing earlobes. However, several other imperfections were found on the statue. Soon after the excavation, the sculpture was recognized as a monumental find. Fragments discovered along with the main pieces included two stone pillars and a left hand holding an apple.

These were later put together to form an armless female statue. The upper torso was discovered without arms and the left foot was also noted to be missing from the lower portion. Upon digging, two main pieces of carved marble were found.

The statue was discovered by a farmer who was removing stones from an ancient wall that previously encircled a gymnasium. Given that the Greek word for apple is ‘melos,’ and the island is said to have had a natural outline resembling that of an apple, it is thought that the name of the statue alludes to its home on the island. The statue was discovered in 1820 on the Greek island of Melos.

Venus de milo statue