Venus Semi-Nude Portrait Oil Painting by Delphin Enjolras
This tremendous oil on canvas in period carved gesso frame by Delphin Enjolras (1857-1945) depicts Venus, Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and desire, standing with red hair draped within a green velvet robe with fur collar. Frame measures 61 by 4 by 45 in, 155 by 10 by 114 cm, and the stretcher measures approximately 44 by 29 in, 112 by 74 cm. Signed D Enjolras. The work was possibly inspired by Het Pelsken (The Fur), the full length portrait by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) of his second wife, Helene Fourment depicted as Venus, which resides in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Enjolras studied with Gaston Gerard at Ecole de Dessin de la Ville de Paris and Jean-Leon Gerome at the Beaux-Arts. He joined the Societe des Artistes Francais in 1901 and exhibited at the Paris Salon thereafter. His works are in the collections of Musee d'Avignon and Musee du Puy.
