Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2013 - Venus d'Arles (13)

The "Venus of Arles" is a famous Roman statue of the goddess Venus, sculpted from a single block of grayish-white marble. It stands 1.94 meters (2.08 meters with its base) and has a depth of 65 centimeters. The statue was discovered in Arles, France, and is believed to originate from the Mount Hymettus near Athens for its ancient parts. The upper body of the statue is naked down to the waist, and the lower part is draped in a wide, deeply carved cloak. The statue features fine details, including a bracelet on the left arm and a hairstyle with a double-wrapped ribbon, along with a missing piece of the drapery on the side. The head is connected to the torso by a joint, concealing the fact that the initial break had only one point of contact. After restoration by François Girardon, the statue's right arm is raised, with the hand holding a mirror, and the left arm is raised to shoulder height, holding an apple. The statue, a remarkable example of ancient Roman sculpture, is now displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.