The Rokeby Venus: Velázquez’s only surviving nude | The National Gallery

Since the National Gallery acquired Diego Velázquez’s ‘Rokeby Venus’ in 1906, it has become one of the most popular paintings in our collection. But who is the mysterious Venus looking at and what do we know about the origins of this work by the greatest painter of 17th century Spain? Find out all this and more with Francesca Whitlum-Cooper, Associate Curator of Paintings 1600-1800, as she walks us through the surprising history of the only surviving nude by Velázquez.
Subscribe to be the first to know about all our new videos: bit.ly/1HrNTFd
Follow us on social media:
Twitter: / nationalgallery
Facebook: / thenationalg. .
Instagram: / national_ga. .
Help keep the museum accessible for everyone by supporting us here:
www.nationalga....
The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free of charge and open 361 days per year, daily between 10.00 am - 6.00 pm and on Fridays between 10.00 am - 9.00 pm.
Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
www.nationalga...

[@mikester99]

This the second lecture I'm seeing from the national gallery, and must say how wonderfully entertaining and informative they are. I don't know the young lady speaking, but I found her precentation charming and impressive. I look forward to watching more. ♡

[@ilsalund9669]

I know that you think that you’re comment is complimentary, but you’re misgendering this speaker, nowhere do they say that they are male or female so one can assume that they are neither and either non binary, genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid or even multigender

[@vincenzobuonocore8931]

Thanks to Francesca’s presentation of Velasquez’s masterpiece my eyes have been opened. She has the gift of garnering so many essential details and pulling you in into her intense aesthetic reactions that keep you mesmerized. Thank you, Francesca.

[@jhb1493]

These lunch time talks the National Gallery puts on have all be excellent - informative, entertaining, and those I've seen have given me a deeper appreciation for the works of art discussed. We take a lot for granted these days. So many of these works were created for private owners. Even if they weren't, they were usually in places where only a relatively small number of people could ever see them, in situ. It's really amazing and wonderful that our culture has created museums like this, to display and care for these works of art for ALL of us. The people able to go to a museum in person, and even more of us who are able to take part remotely, is a gift beyond price. Thank you, National Gallery.

[@adhoc9647]

The speaker touched on everything I would have wanted her to do, and all that in just 27 minutes or so. And in what I have come to appreciate as an indubitably National Gallery virtuoso oral presentation style. Grazie mille !

Thank you very much, Francesca, for such an excellent presentation of this masterpiece by Velazquez.

[@georgeanthony7282]

Diego Velazquez is one of my all-time favorite painters!

[@glaiman]

Being this painting one of my favorites at the National Gallery, this talk almost made me cry. I always feel, whilst observing this painting as if it could have been just taken out fresh from Velazquez´s studio. Thank you! lovely talk!

[@oulipolesceptique9449]

Terrific presentation-- I'm completely with you in the progression of your reading, in your interpretation of how we look first at this painting.

[@markcooke729]

Absolutely amazing! Perfectly pitched and very inciteful - I love these lectures!

[@ezragonzalez8936]

Looking at this painting without knowing anything about it you would think its a late 19th century French school Incredible that it was created in 1647!! way ahead of his time stylistically!! fantastic presentation and she is very beautiful herself!

[@luciadilazzaro2285]

I love this painting so much tht this video ispired me to purchase a reproduction of it and now I couldnt be happier. Thank you, Don Diego, for creating such a breathtaking masterpiece.

[@alannothnagle]

What a fantastic presentation! The very model of a great art lecture. Much appreciated!

[@sam-lz6pi]

Absolutely wonderful! These programmes are such a treasure.

[@jackrowan7715]

Really excellent talk, very excited to see this in person at some point. Thanks a lot

[@angelicakemmish8868]

Velazquez is so amazing. This painting is Magnifica!

[@valsainking]

A lovely and insightful look at this remarkable painting. Velázquez certainly enjoyed the artistic feat of depicting images reflected in mirrors. 'Las Meninas' offers another fascinating example of this.

[@fainatselnik267]

It’s incredibly contemporary - all his works with attribution to short stay in Italy are so innovative, free and full of life. True masterpiece with enigma to boot. French Impressionism 400 years later created similar nude ness. And here we are in cloistered environment of Escorial with stiff ceremonies and conventions, and suddenly such an explosion of freshness.

[@earanda950]

Excellent presentation. This is one of my favorite paintings, thanks for sharing these videos.

[@Northcountry1926]

Impressed by your brilliant introduction - that being to ask questions rather hurl forth facts ! Gracias Francesca

[@robbielu22]

Thank you for giving me some much more of the history of such a fantastic painting.

[@kevinchambers1101]

This was truly a wonderful talk. The NG has really fabulous speakers and curators that we the public have benefited from.

[@gianlucadelfino4636]

Incredible job Francesca thank you so much for this 😊

[@victorcorostola950]

Thank you for the presentation Francesca! Clear and stimulating talk!

[@pramodbabu007]

Thank you Francesca! Your way of explaining is lovely to listen 👏👏👏

[@bobd5119]

Thank you, Francesca. Your talk was informative an uplifting.

[@Xqrement]

The presenter actually looks like Venus in the painting using the same hairstyle. Great lecture!

[@karenhodges7545]

Great presentarion, with so many facts so quickly. The wallpaper is perfect for this beautiful painting of Venus. Lovely

[@bilinguru]

These types of presentations really set the National Gallery apart. The knowledge and enthusiasm of the presenters never fail to both inform and entertain. When conservatives ask why funds should be “wasted” on the arts, when there is so much need elsewhere, one only has to attend one of these talks to appreciate how inspiring art can be to people of all ages. What a tragic loss it would indeed be if the public were deprived of the immense richness of human creativity.

[@Felidae-ts9wp]

Brilliant lecture. Thanks 🖼

[@nationalgallery]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mariemorgan7759]

I love that painting ❤️ so beautiful!

[@carlberg7503]

Brilliant analysis that covers the history, artistic techniques, and mystery that make this painting so fascinating.

[@MariaEduarda003]

Thank you so much!!!! This made my friday

[@PatMcDonald41]

Wow! What a presentation. Brilliant.

[@neferchitty]

Excellent video, excellent explanation 👏👏 Thank you very much!

[@KennethSpeed-g4l]

Superb presentation on the painting.

[@tmr3109]

I feel so lucky that I was able to see this painting last summer. It was one of the highlights of my trip to London. Very good talk, thank you.

[@alanmanuelcontrerassanchez8593]

Certainly stunning , I can't not describe how interesting this was , great speaker and greater artist indeed

[@katze1984]

Amazing presentation! This saved my lunch today ❤ … please more of the series

[@cathyblackhall3448]

Beautiful flesh tones and curves.What is surprising is that the painting is nearly 400 years old.Her figure would be gorgeous now whereas others of the era like Rubens were much heftier.

[@englishclasses738]

Thanks for sharing! I’ve learnt a lot!

[@juliebailey2974]

Truly an excellent presentation. Thank you!

[@pabloamicarelli3351]

Fantastic video

[@Oscarspoem]

I love this series. I truly do. Thank you.

[@MrRichiekaye]

Another wonderful video from the gallery

[@candicemiller5228]

Very nice presentation. I liked how you posed all of the questions at the onset. Much appreciated.

[@arnehessenbruch]

Splendid presentation (nice painting too)

[@janetisell]

Excellent presentation! Thank you so much.

[@rysmith9433]

Jack Says Fritzy

[@wito6998]

JONATHAN SUTCLIFFE Nonsense🧐

[@richardburt9812]

very nice lecture

[@tinavino1575]

I was there more than 10 years ago. Wonder when I will be able to go there again.

[@donnaparison3110]

I love the painted perfection of the skin of the woman and such an interesting talk.

[@alexfoo1839]

i love this - more Velázquez please!

[@SimonGardiner-bj3pq]

What a wonderful way Velazquez brings to us the Apotheosis of the human figure. The form is so beautiful, its line is pure poetry, the dorsal view is indeed unique and so well presented in this talk. The mirror reflects a more intimate reality of the figure, thereby allowing the viewer to see an uninterrupted view of her back - the flow of form standing alone for our contemplation. Remember that this beautiful painting was ATTACKED by a seriously mentally ill fanatic. But thanks to the Conservators - we can see this wonderful beauty before us!

[@rustyreckman2892]

I love the curators energy

[@rembvanrijn]

The sitter’s blurred face is perfectly naturalistic. Given the viewer’s standpoint, the mirror is in shadow, and at some distance. The painting, apart from being one of the greatest marvels of Western painting, is full of ambiguity, deliberately deployed by a genius.

[@ryanjack_1]

This comment was a wonderful read. Thank you.

[@j.a.130]

Stolen picture.

[@gerrysinnott5512]

Excellent, great pace interesting facts.

[@HopskotchBunny]

This is so interesting ! Thank you very much.

[@robertstevenson364]

That was brilliant!

[@taliet637]

This painting is complicated so Mary Richardson's motivation for attacking it. I am against these kinds of property destruction but sometimes if you want to be heard you have to be loud. "I have tried to destroy the picture of the most beautiful woman in mythological history as a protest against the Government for destroying Mrs Pankhurst, who is the most beautiful character in modern history. Justice is an element of beauty as much as colour and outline on canvas. Mrs Pankhurst seeks to procure justice for womanhood, and for this she is being slowly murdered by a Government of Iscariot politicians. If there is an outcry against my deed, let every one remember that such an outcry is an hypocrisy so long as they allow the destruction of Mrs Pankhurst and other beautiful living women, and that until the public cease to countenance human destruction the stones cast against me for the destruction of this picture are each an evidence against them of artistic as well as moral and political humbug and hypocrisy."

[@jp-pe5ws]

Maravillosa explicación

[@lailanify]

Cupid and Psyche, I must say. You are a very eloquent curator!

[@pogo1957]

The speaker has allowed us to see more of the painted hairstyle by adopting it. I also enjoy way the seemingly identical depicted wall and curtain in the portrait to the right extend the fictional space.

[@lenawarelius4195]

Great lesson 👏👏🌼🌻🌺🌹

[@BeerElf66]

As is mentioned part way in, this Venus painting isn't about the viewer. It's about Venus herself. I love that we don't directly look into her eyes, she's allowed to keep secrets. Plus looking at a naked goddess tends to shorten your life somewhat in most of the myths ;-)

[@ritabandyopadhyay8823]

Wonderful painting and talk!

[@MariannaK94]

Thank you for shearing.

[@nephildevil]

Of all the people they chose somebody who resembles the painting to do the explanation? :D No criticism tho, very knowledgeable and clear speech, she's great.

[@RyanSmith-wo2pi]

That's my favorite rock dude

[@sabrinanascimento5248]

This is great.

[@MarceloOliveira-hy5np]

Awesome

[@bookoffholicbookwart5945]

Absolutely loved it

[@FF-so3su]

Excellent, many thanks🙂👍🙂

[@mercedeslb237]

Vraiment magnifique!!!!

[@gauriblomeyer1835]

Excellent performance. My imagination tells me to present myself to her and just to kiss her feet in order to show my admiration and gratitude to our eternal Mahashakti who is within her.

[@fudgeypig9104]

Thank you very much, what a great lecture :-)

[@stenfriberg3470]

Great presentation. I listened and learned. :) Has anyone noticed that the face in the mirror is much too large? Since it is a mirror image, it should appear twice as far away (and thus, twice as small) as the real head. Of course, if it had been the correct size, it would not have stood out as clearly.

[@sebastian122]

Excellent.

[@jesusyustedesantos8015]

Muchas gracias, Francesca. Me pregunto:¿Cómo piensas que este cuadro podría resultar a alguien mínimamente entendido en arte, provocativo?

[@sabrinanascimento5248]

Awesome painting.

[@craigblykins]

This is an excellent and insightful presentation. I learned some interesting details. I did not realize creation and ownership of such paintings was illegal in Spain in the time-frame in which this work was created. I believe it is a universal truth, across all centuries and cultures: man appreciates and yearns to see the beauty of woman. It is not always a sexual urge, and I don't really see 'Rokeby Venus' as a sexual painting. I do find in this painting a dual truth. Yes, most men would proudly embrace the opportunity to gaze daily at this Venus in the privacy of their own home. But what you did not consider is how Venus is gazing at herself in the mirror. I don't believe Diego included the mirror so the viewer of the painting could see Venus' face. Instead I believe it is a commentary on how beautiful women enjoy seeing themselves reflected in a mirror! One can call that vanity, but in truth woman can also appreciate the beauty of woman. A woman who can appreciate her own beauty without conceit is a wonderful thing indeed.

[@ryanrobsonbluer9791]

As much as I want to agree with you, the optics are such that it is impossible for Venus to be looking at herself in the mirror as we as viewers can see her face. Therefore she must in turn be looking at us. The question of whether or not we are invited to look back or not is probably more pressing. At the same time, the notion of having a mirror in her 'toilette' at all does seem to suggest a certain vanity and self-appreciation but certainly in this moment she is more focused on her viewers than on herself.

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

I think Dr Francesca is a wonderful scholar and narrator-erudite and friendly-but I wish people would stop suggesting that Caravaggio was the inventor of Tenebrism. Northern painters and Venetian painters were painting "Caravaggism" long before Caravaggio was even born. What Caravaggio brought to Rome was the addition of mirror projections-hence a heightened Realism-onto the Tenebrist "look".

[@MrsOliva]

Knowing Velazquez, I can add an unusual and absurd hypothesis: in front of Venus there may be a portrait, not a mirror.

[@okoftis]

It is interesting that also in the Heliad Homer does not describe the face of Helen at all.He just lets people imagine by them selves that she is the most beautiful woman in the world.He lets them discover in their minds their own perfect Helen.

[@gamerhumilde77]

That blurriness of your brush, Velásquez 😘 hoy cow!!

[@ricardo8653]

Gold

[@stephengent9974]

I have to say one of the first things I saw was the cupid. There is a strong diagonal across to the "venus" figure. Given we know so little about this work, I for one, am loath to read too much into it. Give the language of art of the period, and art is heavily codified through history. we can draw inference from it. Some of the language that would have been clear to contemporaries, but are not to us. However it is all too easy to over-interpret., to see too much through modern eyes. One point: do you notice that the venus and the cleric hanging next to her, has the same color of drapery behind them. What does this particular color convey? Certain colors were more expensive to make, like lapis and certain reds and greens, as they were of natural materials. Pink was popularized through interior design, so is a fashionable color in the 17th century

[@ecyranot]

One of the first things I noticed is that the reflected face in the mirror is not what you would see with her lying that far from the mirror. It would be smaller. So it is not intended to be "realistic." Perhaps he had to do that to compose the painting as he wanted, or perhaps there's a meaning in that distortion. I would have liked to hear about why cupid would be showing Venus her reflection. Is there a comment being made about the ideal of beauty versus the imperfection of reality . . .

[@jadezee6316]

i think she is intended to be a human being...the mirror is just to say...that everyone has their own perceptions of beauty...even a woman so beautiful is unsure of her own attraction...and those thoughts change....so naturally the mirror can not be defined....and beauty ,,,does not require to be surrounded with jewels and fancy fabrics....the entire painting is saying...when you see beauty...that in itself is enough!...stop looking for more

[@miguelvelasco8173]

Isn't Velazquez just a really really early precursor of impressionism?

[@monicacaballero6160]

Yes, he is. His two paintings of Villa Medici are a great example. Velázquez en later Goya are the "fathers" of impressionism.

[@luaevablue]

She even has the same hairstyle. I wonder if it was on purpose since it's one of her favorites.

[@Tubbins82]

Wow I didn't notice until you mentioned it! Bet she's a time Lady/Lord

[@wito6998]

By golly, it’s quite remarkable!

[@hugofernunez]

El Baño de Venus, Belleza & Vanidad

[@LeeHill66]

As I listened to the presenter I couldn't help but see her as the woman in this painting.

[@DAYBROK3]

could velazquez have seen the sculpture the hermaphrodite? the back looks similar. its quite a spectacular behind.

[@wojtekgall4766]

Wow...😊❤❤❤⚜⚜⚜

[@jonrettich4579]

I believe if you review this pose with care you will find it surprisingly uncomfortable with very possibly some errors in the depiction of the anatomy. It feels a very personal and intimate portrait with the Cupid included to disarm potential official sanction, its’ provenance seems to support this. I also believe the gentle obscuring of the facial features also defensive. The masculine ideal of womens’ physiognomies from that period I believe far more substantial. The only other depiction of a slim woman from near that period was one of a French king’s young mistress this woman is clearly thin. It was the fashion in Spain and Italy at. That time to use common people to represent the important Catholic historical notables

[@luisortizgervasi3820]

The ideal of female beauty is so different from Rubens' 'Three Graces'...¡ The difference amazes me, considering that Velazquez and Rubens were nearly contemporaries

[@georgeanthony7282]

They in fact met... and it was Rubens who suggested Velazquez should visit Italy when possible.

[@harperwelch5147]

I don’t see why the curator is racing through this description. There’s near panic in her voice. Why is that? I’ve noticed that same pattern of presentation in other presentations. Not all paintings need to be described speedily. Especially in this case, slow down and enjoy the beauty and sensuality of this work of art.

[@annbushey4028]

Thank you for your erudition and interest in this painting. I am curious whether you consulted actual painters about this painting. I find the simplicity and lack of sort of "show off" details extremely interesting here. You did not explore the significance of her being not frontal but looking at you in the mirror. You are right about the curves and finish on her flesh. But, I always feel that Velasquez is speaking of real attraction between real people (no sensational details, no rich flesh). To me this is his great accomplishment here.

[@joecarr2224]

A marvelous painting. What undulating flesh and drapery. What a swell, toney palm bar picture!

[@LH-ro2ot]

Excellent talk. I love this painting, yet don't like the rendering of the face in the mirror. Just shows that a painting can be brilliant overall and move you even if not all parts are equally brilliant.

[@elsajones6325]

The reflection in the mirror is not well proportioned. The face would have appeared smaller than the actual face of the model. Fabulous capture of skin smoothness,and color.

[@rubenpm2098]

Great talk....but this painting should be at the Prado, its real home. La Venus es nuestra.

[@Tracafallera]

No sé por qué evita decir que fue robada en España, y "comprada" ilegalmente, como si al salir de España se hubiese legalizado su mercadeo.

[@ryanrobsonbluer9791]

Pienso que la Venus es del mundo

[@jmforment]

In Spain, we know it as Venus of the mirror. And we also know it was stolen by an English soldier during our last war against France. A bit disappointing she did not mention it. Thanks for the talk, anyway. Very good one (as usual in this channel)

[@j.a.130]

They are thiefs, don't mention it cause they would be up against it.

[@MandyJMaddison]

Juan Arranz, Hmmm! Now tell me exactly where all that gold from South America went to..........

[@j.a.130]

@@MandyJMaddison we built cathedrals, palaces, hospitals, schools and many more, what did you build and do with native americans?

[@MandyJMaddison]

Juan Arranz We are talking about THEFT. Are you telling me that the Spanish were KIND to the people of South America. Oh, I didn't realise that!

[@d.a.g.c961]

@@MandyJMaddison You can´t steal what is in your property wtf are you talking about? Spain had vicerroys with somekind of autonomy like napeles-