The Birth of Venus (1863). Alexandre Cabanel (French, 1823-1889). Oil on canvas. Musée d'Orsa

The Birth of Venus (1863). Alexandre Cabanel (French, 1823-1889). Oil on canvas. Musée d'Orsay.

Cabanel depicts personality, but in subtle ways through her relaxed posture and sleepy expression. Jenna-Marie Newberry writes of Venus: “The lightest of color used in The Birth of Venus alludes to the lightness and enlightenment of relaxation, amplifying the reclining nude’s placid demeanor and virginity. The contrapposto twist of the figure with the melodramatic swoop of the arm over the face comes directly from his previous paintings … Venus herself takes over the entire front of the picture plane. Her hair has been deepened, adding more to her allure and purity.”