Venus Verticordia

Venus Verticordia White marble; c.1833-38 By John Gibson

Inscribed on the tortoise's shell: 'OPVS IOANNIS GIBSON ROMAE' Gibson recorded how the wealthy MP Joseph Neeld (1789 1856) had visited his studio in Rome several times before asking him to carve a 'Venus, nude, but with some drapery modestly arranged without sacrificing too much of the form'.

Inspired by Classical prototypes, Gibson showed…