Venus Verticordia translating to “the changer of hearts” is the name of the Roman goddess Venus, alluding to the goddess’ ability to change hearts from lust to innocence.
This portrait is inspired by the painting made by Dante Rossetti in 1868. As a painter myself, I have a massive admiration for the works of Rossetti, and this photograph is my tribute to this artist.
My Venus is holding a golden orange that is a symbol of committed love and prosperity. I used orange as it is a fruit full of sun, and life and for me is a symbol of sexuality and flowing feminity, and forbidden fruits. I opposed the lust and sexuality by the innocence of butterflies that surrounds the model. Butterflies are a magical symbol of change, hope and life. The held by Venus is ‘Cupids arrow’, Cupid being the son of Venus and the god of desire, and it points towards the left side of the chest and her own heart. This suggesting to the viewer the invocation of uncontrollable passion. With one butterfly sitting on the arrow suggesting that this might be the end of the playful childhood and a beginning of her becoming a woman.
