Venus in a Shell I

Henri Matisse

1930

Bronze

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A dark bronze sculpture depicts a reclining nude figure within a shell-like base. The figure is abstractly rendered with smooth, curved forms. A dark bronze sculpture depicts a reclining nude figure within a shell-like base. The figure is abstractly rendered with smooth, curved forms. Venus, the ancient Roman goddess of love and beauty, sits upon a seashell, the traditional symbol of her birth from the waters of the sea. Matisse chose to emphasize a strong vertical accent in this sculpture, creating a pronounced sense of ascendancy that underscores the mythological theme. Gallery Not on View Gift of the Dayton Hudson Corporation