The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-05
VENUS DE MILO.
The Statue Again Becomes the
Subject of Discussion.
Special Paris Letter to rnE SUNDAY CALL.


PARIS, Sept. 90, 1S9O-A2ain the Venus
de Milo is the question on the taps in
learned circles. Every one who as visited
the Louvre is familiar with this beautiful
statue, considered by all artists as the lurest
type of feminine beauty that comes t. us
from antique sculptures. As TO The peIfec-
ton OF the work there is no discussion; to
know what it represents hat is tie ques-
ton, and a question very diicult to an ,wer,
as the statue was brought to Paris in a
mutilated condition.
However, Mr.. RavaissOn, an eX-guardian
of the Louvre Antiqu tie, after thirty Years
of study, thinks he has discovered the truth
According to this saVant the VEINS was not
isolated Us we see her to-day. She leaned
her left arm on the shoulder of Mars, while
| her right hand was extended in an lmplOring
| attituue. Nj. RHvaiSsOn has reconstructed
! the group according to his idea. The finest
male statue in existence is that called in the
Louvre catalogue Achilles BOrghese, but ac-
cOrdtug TO Nj. RavassOn, this statue is Mars.
As there are many groups Where copies of
this Mars are beside women in the same az
tiiude as Venus lie Milo, NJ. Ravaisson
placed the two statues side by side in the
ideal position, and on the ground floor of
the Louvre is the TeSult-"N enuS inviting
Mars t. lay down his arms ana taste the
joys OF peace"
Tie warrior hesitated and it is this hest
tation that in the statue Achilles has been
named Me-. nch0ly." OF course there is
excitement among aut:Quarians. Some agree
with NJ. RavalSson, others say that Venus
simply HE her ann as she held In her hand
the dppte, prize of beauty.
l remember that some time ago NJ. Ra-
watson gave me his opinion on the subject
Of this famous Venus. said he: For years
| believed with De GlarAc. Conservatism of
the Louvre Museum during Louis ANllIs
reign. that because the statue inclined to-
wald the right, companion at the left
would be impossible. But, during the war
of 1870. ] Was obliged to conceal the Venus
in a cellar and alter the siege l took II from
| its hid!pE-place and restored 1t TO the
Louvre The dampueSs had, IN a Shght de-
| gree injured the statue, ana l saw that the
Venus Is composed Of several pieces, and
| that Of these the two most important We're
joined in the folds of drapery. More than
that. these pieces were badly united, for a
shaving of wood had been inserted, thus
throwing the body toward the right. l
photographed the statue in that pose, then
removed the shaving, and behold! The
Venus was in a natural pOSitiont'
1t seems strange that savants cannot
agree even as to the condition III which the
statue was found nor under what circum-
stances it was sent to France. Some say
that in the year 1929 Greek peasant of
Milo, named Gorgos, digging one day in his
garden, found the statue IN an excavation of
bricks; that the French Consul, informed of
this discovery, Immediately bought the
statue and announced his wonderful pur-
chase to the officers OF La CheVrette. Il little
French ship anchored at Milo These Off
GERS inform, the French EmbaSS dor at
Cons antinople, who immediately sent the
ship 7 EStafrtte with a Secretary OF Embassy
to receive this chel-d'9Iyre from the hands
Of the Consul.
But the Greek did not keep his word, and
| the statue was embarked only after grave
| difficulties. AT Milo in that time there was
| Greek named NIcunomos, who had been
| accused OF tTckery. This individual thought
| that if he made d rich present to MOruSi,
dragOman OF the arsenal, he might gain his
favor. 10 GOrgoS, the Greek dlScUverer. he
paid large sum OF money, and the Venus
was taken down the AdamanteS coast,
Where was stationed the Greek ship
G1laxidion. just as the Greek sailors were
| embarking the statue, the French ship
| Estafette made its appearance, and soSn as
| the sailors Of the latter understood what
| had happened they landed, Sprang upon the
| Greeks, who We're dragging the Venus, and
| carried the statue IN trum n 20 their snip.
Many witnesses OF this combat especially
| the famous DumOnt d Urvllr, then simple
| officer on the Chevret1e, affirmed that the
statue represented woman holding in her
| left hand an apple and with the right hand
folding the draprTies OF her robe. But these
witnesses said that in the struggle the statue
fell ana its arms were broken.
However, from every side come contradic-
tons Colonel Pointer, an eyewitness OF
the EN- barcatiOn, says that this story is but
a fable. Nv hen We arrived at Milo" said
the Colonel, I'VE learned that the statue had
been sold to an American, no placed it on
board OF an Austrian ship. The Estafette
sent boat armed for war. with orders to
take the statue by force. The French sailors
were disappointed when the Austrian COM
mander gracefully yielded, for they had
hoped to fight for the Venus. The statue
was armiess as to-day
When the statue was brought to France
Louis XVIII, unable to walk, was wheeled
into the Sale LacaZe OF the Louvre. After
gazing upon il for a long time the-klng
said That is a very beautiful object and
II masterpiece; it deserves Il home III our
museum"
At that time every incomplete statue was
restored, for the eyes Of 4 sovereign were
never allowed IL rest upon imperfect work.
| The Venus de Milo was considered too eX-
| qulsite even in ruins, to cast aside, and it
| furnished abundant study to the most emf
| nent archseOlogists. The quarrels became so
| serious that the case was laid before Louis
| XVIII. He quietly listened to the pros
| and cons for the reconstruction of the statue
| and answered. II see you do not agree;
| therefore do nothing But, sire, she has
| no arms" Every well; leave her without
| arms" And because Of Louis XVIIPS or
| der Venus remained armlesS until NJ. Ra-
yaisson presented his plan for the recon-
structiOn of the group.
BARONESS ALTHEA SALVADOR.