Augustinus Terwesten d. Ä., 1649 – 1711
THE TOILETTE OF VENUS
Oil on wood.
29 x 28 cm.
Monogrammed "AT" at lower left on pedestal. Verso on wood in red different numberings.

Included is an expert opinion by Ferdinando Arisi on the mentioned artist, copy available.

In a park-like complex, in front of a stone Baroque balustrade, Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, sits at a round table with a blanket. She wears a reddish gathered skirt as well as a white and golden cloak over her left shoulder of the otherwise naked torso. One servant is currently having her hair done and braided, another servant, standing at the table, is lifting a golden chain to decorate her. Other precious pieces of jewellery, such as a long pearl necklace with brooch, are also lying on the bright red tablecloth. At the lower left edge of the picture a pedestal, on which a plate and a shiny silver carafe stand. Venus is not looking at the small mirror on the table, but with her dark eyes ponderingly looking out of the picture at the observer. Painting in which the colours red, yellow and dark green are in stark contrast to each other, as well as emphasising the light upper bodies and faces of the women depicted.
The toilet of Venus was a popular motif among painters of the 17th/18th century; it is also to be found in Tiziano Vecellio (1485/89-1576) and François Boucher (1703-1770). (12207420) (18)