The Toilet of Venus ('The Rokeby Venus')
- Artist: Diego Velázquez
- Date: 1647-51
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "The Toilet of Venus" by Diego Velázquez. The painting shows the goddess of love, Venus, reclining languidly on her bed, surrounded by rich colours and lively brushstrokes in the curtain and sheets. Her smooth skin is depicted in glowing, pearly tones that contrast beautifully with the vibrant textures around her.
Venus' face is reflected in the mirror held up by her son, Cupid, but the reflection is blurred - we can't see who she really is. Velázquez deliberately used a sketchy style for Cupid's face and far leg to focus our attention on Venus. This subtle approach makes us fill in the gaps with our imagination.
The subject of female nudes was rare in seventeenth-century Spain, where overtly sensual images were met with disapproval by the Catholic Church. However, Velázquez and his patrons, including King Philip IV, did own mythological paintings depicting nudes by artists like Rubens and Titian.
This painting is not only a masterpiece of art but also a reflection of its time and cultural context. Its intriguing composition and use of light have captivated artists and writers for centuries, inspiring numerous adaptations and interpretations.
See it in person
The Toilet of Venus ('The Rokeby Venus') hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
