"In the "Worship of Venus" Titian adhered closely to the text of Philostratus. We find here group for group just as described. To the right the lofty marble statue of Venus to whom two nymphs are doing homage, one with the action of a bacchante, a wreath of flowers in her fair hair, in features resembling the shepherd maiden in the "Three Ages"; the other more serious, with pretty gentle features, both of that exuberant style of beauty to be found in the women of the half-length pictures. They are offering oblations to the goddess. At her feet we see the gayest, busiest throng. Hundreds of naked winged children, playing merrily together, loading baskets with the apples they have plucked from the large trees, pelting each other with the fruit or stamping on it with their little feet. Here one is taking aim at another with his bow, one climbs on the back of another and bites his ear, others roll on the ground or play with a hare who is anxiously striving to escape from their clutches. There a couple are embracing each other, and one is lifting laboriously a basket on to his back, as an offering for the goddess. Far off in the distance a ring of merry children are singing and dancing. Jubilant sounds from many little throats rise up among the thick trees and fill the broad meadow-land."
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The Worship of Venus
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