Venus Of Rokeby Interpretation

Art is influenced by many factors and two of which are what I believe to be the most important, the commissioner and the time period that the piece is created in. Particularly, in the 10th-17th century there is a rebirth of classical ideas, in this case Venus. I will be analyzing two Venuses, The Venus of Urbino by Titian and the Venus of Rokeby by Velazquez. Specifically, how does time period as well as commissioner influence the painting? And does this cause a change in the symbolic meaning and connotation of Venus?
The renaissance was a time of rebirth influenced by classical ideas. Many artists found inspiration from the Greeks and Greek culture and incorporated it into their work. In particular, mythological stories were used as subjects
Epithalamia are songs in poetry that were invented by the Greeks and were used to celebrate marriage. They were written and used specifically for the bride on the way to her bridal chamber. In the songs, Venus is described as reclining as Cupid tries to get her to attend a wedding as a pronuba.() Venus becomes used as a symbol of marriage, fertility and even sensuality. “She (Venus) unites the couple, sanctions the passions that brought them together, and increases their amorous desires." () Epithalamia become a popular genre of painting in the Renaissance and were typically nudes with Venus or cupid being the subject. It became a tradition to present them as wedding gifts and they were used to wish newlyweds fertility as well as happiness. Eventually it became a tradition. (Vincenzo Catari Imagini degli dei de gli antichi ca 1500.) Paintings in this genre are identifiable by the nudity as well as decorations
The Venus of Urbino, is known as the one of the greatest female nudes in the Venetian high renaissance. It was painted between 1488 and 1576 and is a life size oil painting of Venus. Tiziano Vecellio, most commonly known as Titian painted it based on an earlier work by Giorgione who was a close friend. Although it is based on Giorgione’s Venus, it is very different in style as well as content.
Titian painted Venus for the Duke of Camerino who later became the Duke of Urbino. It is thought that the Duke commissioned the work as a way to celebrate his marriage to his wife Giuliana Varano. This assumption is supported by the style as well as content of the painting.
The painting shows a nude woman, Venus, is reclining on a bed in what looks like a palace. Titian has chosen to put Venus in an indoor setting and has made her look directly at the person viewing the painting. In making her look directly at the viewer, it has established a sort of intimacy and in putting her in an indoor setting he has in a sense domesticated her. Her eye contact with the viewer also shows that she is not fazed by her nudity. In addition to her stare, Titian has created a composition that draws the view to Venus’s pubic area. This also alludes to the theme of sexuality and fertility. Essentially, Titian has taken away traditional ways of displaying the goddess and