Paintings of Venus: 10 Stunning Masterpieces That Celebrate the Goddess of Love

1. Venus and Cupid (Sleeping Venus) by Artemisia Gentileschi

Artemisia Gentileschi’s Venus and Cupid, also known as Sleeping Venus, is one of the most intimate paintings of Venus from the Baroque era. The goddess of love reclines on deep blue drapery, her head resting on a crimson pillow with golden tassels. Cupid, painted as a cherubic putto, gently fans her with vibrant peacock feathers. His tender gaze reinforces the scene’s quiet sensuality, turning the moment into a private glimpse of divine repose.

Gentileschi’s Venus is strikingly human. Her features mirror those of the artist herself—full cheeks, heavy-lidded eyes, and a soft, natural expression. The pose feels relaxed and believable, setting her apart from the rigid, idealized Venuses of earlier painters. This sense of realism blends beautifully with the work’s classical iconography, creating an elegant balance between intimacy and myth.

The painting’s luxury is unmistakable. Gentileschi used costly lapis lazuli pigments to achieve the rich ultramarine bedspread, a detail that signals its likely commission by a wealthy patron. The lavish setting—complete with velvet pillows, gold embroidery, and exotic peacock feathers—frames the goddess as the centerpiece of a scene designed for devotion and admiration. Art historians note that Gentileschi softened her usual dramatic style to meet her patron’s expectations, demonstrating her versatility without losing her distinct voice.

2. The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus is among the most famous paintings of Venus. Venus stands on a giant scallop shell, arriving on Cyprus from the sea foam. Zephyr and Aura blow her gently to shore, while a figure, possibly a Grace or the Hora of Spring, offers a flower-covered cloak. Scattered roses symbolize spring and divine love.

The goddess represents beauty, spiritual love, and harmony between nature and divinity. Botticelli based her modest pose on classical sculptures, with her golden hair catching and reflecting the light. The wind gods draw inspiration from Hellenistic gems admired by Lorenzo de’ Medici.

The Medici family is likely to have commissioned the painting. Orange trees in the background reference their emblem. Painted on canvas for a noble villa, this work celebrates the goddess of love and showcases Venus symbolism in art.

3. Venus Rising from the Sea by Gustave Moreau

Gustave Moreau’s Venus Rising from the Sea is one of the most sensual depictions of Venus from the 19th century. The goddess emerges from the waves, her body luminous and ethereal against a dreamlike seascape. Her pose is both graceful and modest, recalling classical statues while radiating a mystical quality that is unique to Moreau.

This work highlights Venus symbolism in art through the element of water, representing purity, rebirth, and divine beauty. Moreau’s glowing palette and intricate details transform the myth into a vision, blending mythology with Symbolist imagination.

The painting reflects Moreau’s fascination with myth and spirituality. In Symbolism, the aim was to reveal inner truths rather than depict reality. Moreau’s Venus embodies this ideal, existing as both a vision of love and a spiritual archetype.

4. The Birth of Venus by Ettore Tito

Ettore Tito, a Venetian painter celebrated for his vibrant and graceful style, brought a fresh perspective to classical subjects. His Birth of Venus reimagines the goddess’s arrival with a sense of lightness and joy. Venus rises from the water, her body glowing with vitality, while playful cherubs surround her, emphasizing the scene’s festive energy.

Unlike earlier Renaissance versions, Tito’s approach embraces early 20th-century artistic trends. His loose brushwork and bright, sunlit palette reflect the influence of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. The result feels modern yet respectful of tradition, bridging the gap between myth and contemporary aesthetics.

This work highlights Tito’s ability to merge Venetian roots with new painting styles. His Venus is both divine and approachable, symbolizing renewal and the enduring power of myth in a rapidly changing world.

5. Venus, After Botticelli by Yin Xin

Yin Xin’s Venus, After Botticelli offers a contemporary reinterpretation of Botticelli’s iconic The Birth of Venus. Painted in 2008, it presents a dark-haired Venus with distinctly Asian features, replacing the blonde European figure of the original. By doing so, Yin Xin emphasizes how cultural context shapes perceptions of artistic value.

The composition focuses tightly on Venus’s head and shoulders, rather than depicting her full figure. This cropping draws the viewer directly to her expression, highlighting both beauty and individuality. The transformation of her features—dark hair, almond-shaped eyes, and soft Asian contours—signals a deliberate fusion of Western classical motifs with Chinese visual sensibilities.

Yin Xin’s work explores the relationship between culture and art appreciation. By reimagining a Western masterpiece through an Eastern lens, the artist invites viewers to reflect on how identity and heritage influence artistic interpretation. Venus, After Botticelli stands as a striking example of cross-cultural dialogue and contemporary engagement with classical themes.

6. The Birth of Venus by Alexandre Cabanel

Alexandre Cabanel’s The Birth of Venus remains one of the most celebrated depictions of Venus from the 19th century. The painting exemplifies French academic ideals, with mythological subject matter, graceful forms, and refined brushwork that highlight the artist’s technical mastery.

Cabanel reinterprets the myth in a unique way. Venus does not rise from a clamshell, nor does she adopt a contrapposto stance. Instead, she reclines naturally, her ivory skin rendered with lifelike precision. The composition blends influences from Ingres and 18th-century styles, reflecting the eclectic tastes of the Second French Empire.

The painting’s appeal lies in its subtle eroticism. By portraying a nude goddess under the guise of classical narrative, Cabanel could explore sensuality without offending contemporary viewers. Critics were divided: some, like Gustave Courbet, dismissed the work, while writers including Émile Zola praised its elegance and modern sensibility. The Birth of Venus thus embodies both the academic tradition and provocative beauty of 19th-century French painting.

7. The Birth of Venus by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s The Birth of Venus is another one of the most admired paintings of Venus from the 19th century. In this work, Venus rises gracefully from the sea on a shell, her skin glowing and her form idealized. Cherubs surround her, supporting her arrival and emphasizing the divine, celebratory nature of the scene.

Bouguereau painted with incredible precision, using soft brushwork to create smooth textures and perfect proportions. Moreover, he combined classical composition with realism, making the goddess both approachable and divine. The painting’s delicate colors and attention to anatomy demonstrate his mastery of academic painting.

As a result, the work became widely admired by collectors and critics alike. Bouguereau’s Venus highlights both the beauty of the female form and the enduring appeal of mythological subjects. It reflects 19th-century French tastes, balancing sensuality, technical skill, and classical inspiration.

8. Nude with Fruit Bowl (Venus) by Mario Sironi

Mario Sironi’s Nude with Fruit Bowl, also called Venus, marks a return to the human figure after years of exploring urban landscapes. During this period, he focused on the relationship between the body and its surrounding space, combining classical references with modern artistic concerns.

In this painting, the female figure stands with a calm, hieratic pose, slightly animated by the movement of her right arm and hand. Architectural elements subtly frame her, recalling Sironi’s interest in classical composition and the integration of figure with structure. The influence of Renaissance art, particularly Piero della Francesca, is evident in the geometric clarity and serene presence of the figure.

As a result, the work blends metaphysical painting techniques with classical ideals, creating a Venus that is both timeless and modern. The piece emphasizes harmony between body and environment, reflecting Sironi’s belief in the connection between microcosm and macrocosm. Nude with Fruit Bowl (Venus) demonstrates how traditional subjects like Venus could be renewed within early 20th-century Italian art.

9. The Birth of Venus by Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol’s The Birth of Venus reinterprets the classical goddess through the lens of Pop Art. Warhol repeats and layers the image of Venus, using bright, contrasting colors to create a bold, modern effect. His approach transforms the mythological subject into a commentary on celebrity, mass media, and visual culture.

Unlike traditional depictions, Venus is not an isolated figure of divine beauty. Instead, she becomes part of a vibrant, commercial aesthetic, highlighting the reproducibility and cultural saturation of iconic images. Warhol’s use of repetition emphasizes both the familiarity of and the constructed nature of classical beauty.

As a result, the work bridges Renaissance inspiration with 20th-century Pop Art. It challenges viewers to reconsider how myth, femininity, and fame intersect in contemporary culture. The Birth of Venus demonstrates how classical subjects can be reimagined through modern artistic movements, remaining both recognizable and impactful.

10. The Birth of Oshun by Harmonia Rosales

Harmonia Rosales’s The Birth of Oshun reimagines Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus through a feminist and decolonial lens. Instead of the traditional European Venus, Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of love, fertility, and harmony, floats toward the viewer. Her short hair and rich caramel-brown skin emphasize a new standard of beauty and power.

Meanwhile, on the left, Oya, goddess of winds and storms, supports Obatalá, the creator of humanity. Additionally, Yemayá, the ocean orisha, welcomes Oshun to shore. She carries a golden robe adorned with sunflowers, symbolizing her attributes. Golden markings on Oshun’s body suggest vitiligo, referencing her myth of transforming into a peacock to plead for rain during a drought. As a result, the burnt feathers and swirling wind hint at her sacrifice and resilience.

Rosales blends classical mythology and Renaissance motifs with African spirituality, making the painting feel familiar while appearing strikingly new. In addition, the work challenges Eurocentric ideals of female beauty. By replacing Venus with Oshun, Rosales celebrates Black female empowerment, cultural identity, and the universal power of love.

These 10 paintings of Venus reveal how artists across centuries have explored love, beauty, and femininity. Each work offers a unique perspective, blending myth, culture, and personal vision. Together, they reveal the goddess’s lasting influence on art and the creative imagination. Ultimately, Venus remains a symbol that continues to inspire reinterpretation and admiration today. Which one do you like the best?