Venus and the Vote
The Rokeby Venus is surely one of the most beautiful paintings in London’s National Gallery. Few people see it without stopping awhile to gaze in awe and wonder. Painted by the Spanish artist Diego Velasquez between 1647 and 1651, it shows the nude figure of Venus – probably Velasquez’ mistress – reclining on a couch with her back to the viewer, while her son, Cupid –the Roman god of physical love - holds up a mirror before her. It is a very sensual painting - an exquisite evocation of female sexual beauty. Many people – especially men – admire it for that reason alone. But there is more to this painting than sex; it has a political history too. Why? Well, if you look at it closely enough, questions begin to arise. Why has she got her back to us? A masterly touch surely; a tease, tempting us to imagine more. But it was also, probably, a way for Velasquez to placate the Inquisition in 1650. ‘I only painted her back,’ you can imagine him innocently protesting to the morals polic...