The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-06-28
The Venus of Milo.

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The theory of the French arch@olo-
gists, that one of the lost hands of n the
goddess held the apple of Paris, and the
other her drapery, which has fallen to
her waist-a theory which has been de
Tended in folios of learned criticism
will have to be abandoned, if the story
of our Charge d'Affaires at Athens is
true. OF the two arms lately discover
ed on the island of Melos, and supposed
to belong to the Venus found there in
1920, one "holds kind of disk or
shieldr-a mirror, it has been suggest
ed, as becomes the goddess. But we
want to hear whether the statue itself
has any sympathy with the new discov-
cry. The experts have not been heard
from. Meanwhile, supposing the story
to be true, the world of art will rejoice
at the restoration to near perfection of
this noble creation of womanly beauty
In 1920, French midshipman named
Voutier, cruising in the Grecian Archi-
pelago, landed on ancient Melos, Or
Milo, for a pleasure ramble. While on
shore he saw peasant digging for
stones on the site of an old temple un-
earth portion of a marble statue of Il
woman, which, not suiting his purpose,
he was proceeding to cover up again;
but Voutier, struck with its exceeding
beauty, paid him literally to dig it up
entire, and had it conveyed secretly to
his ship. The arms were wanting, hay
ing been broken off below the shoulder,
and the left foot, or a portion of it, was
also gone. The latter fragment was re-
stored by French artist, with consid-
cradle success. AS soon as the statue
was set up its marvellous beauty was
recognized by all beholders, and in 1884
it was purchased by the French Govern
ment for the Louvre, where it has ever
since remained, except that when the
Prussians approached Paris, during the
late war, fearful that it might be carried
away as a prize of war, the Government
took it down from its pedestal, cased it
in plaster, and buried it in a secret
place. 1t has since been restored to its
former position.
Before the discovery of this statue, the
Venus by Cleomenes of Athens, which
was exhumed at the villa of Hadrian,
near Tiyoli, in the seventeenth century,
and is called the Venus de Medici, was
recognized as the most perfect type Of
female grace. 1t is now in the Tribune
at Florence. The pre-eminence of this
antique is no longer undisputed. While
all admit the marvellous perfection of
the Florentine statue, the Venus of Milo
is in the Judgment of many, perhaps of
most, the superior work of art. Both
are familiar through photograph and
reproductions in plaster and bronze.
The face of the Italian Venus is not
strikingly beautiful, while that of the
Venus of Milo is exquisite in its nobility
and repOse, and the whole figure has the
proportions. and beauty of goddess,
compared to whom the other seems a
fair form of human Weaknesses and pas
sions. -. ...a.
The sculptor of the Venus of Milo is
unknown. 1t has commonly been
thought to be a copy Of work of Prax-
titles. The absence of the arms has
caused abundant conjecture respecting
the true meaning of the statue, and, in
deed, there have been grave doubts as to
whether it was Intended as a Venus.
When it was taken down to be buried it
was discovered that the artist.Who set it
up had, in putting together the two parts
of the torso, given the upper part an ins
clination forward which was unnecessa-
ny, and when, set up again it was made
more erect. The true position of the
arms has always been vexed question.
The position o.. the figure suggested that
it had formed one Of a group, and by
many it has been thought that the group
might have represented Venus arming
Mars. The statement that one of the
hands found holds shield is regarded
as partly corroborative of this opinion.
The find will prove pecuniary adj
vantage to the makers of casts and
bronzes. The demand for new ones of
the completed figure viii be prompt and
profitable .-Boston Advertiser. "