Paul Suttman, Braque Visited by the Conquering Venus—Armed with the Apples of Discord

Paul Suttman
1933 Enid, Oklahoma – 1993 South Kent, Connecticut
Braque Visited by the Conquering Venus—Armed with the Apples of Discord
1991
bronze
Albuquerque Museum, museum purchase, 1993 General Obligation Bonds and The Albuquerque Museum Foundation
PC1994.36.1

Braque Visited by the Conquering Venus features a display of objects perched precariously on a table and chair. The organic, natural forms like the arm and the apples contrast with the sharp corners and geometric shapes of the furniture.

Two art historical references are made in Paul Suttman’s sculpture. One is to the early 20th-century Cubist painter Georges Braque, who painted scenes with the intention of showing multiple viewpoints at once. The other reference is to the 19th-century sculptor, Antonio Canova’s portrait of Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victorious. Venus Victorious refers to the Greek myth of the Judgement of Paris in which Paris, a Trojan shepherd was assigned the task of determining which of three goddesses would receive a golden apple marked “to the fairest.” Each goddess tried to bribe Paris and Venus was victorious after she offered him the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. This turn of events led to the Trojan War.

 Family Fun Activity

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