Portland stone
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/william-mcmillan-1612" aria-label="More by William McMillan" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">William McMillan</a>
Birth Venus
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1931
actions: postures and motions
adults
Aphrodite / Venus
arm / arms raised
Birth of Venus
classical myths: events, themes
classical myths: gods and heroes
female
legs crossed
nudes
people
religion and belief
woman
<p>McMillan was born in Aberdeen and studied at art schools in Aberdeen and London. He was Head of the Sculpture School at the Royal Academy from 1929-40. He began to exhibit sculpture at the Royal Academy Summer exhibitions in 1917 and continued to do so until the 1940s. 'The Birth of Venus' was shown there in 1931 and made specifically for exhibition purposes, although McMillan usually worked on commissions. Significant public works by the artist include fountains in Trafalgar Square and Regent's Park, a portrait of George VI in the Mall, London, and a double portrait in stone of the pilots Alcock and Brown at Heathrow airport.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
sculpture portland stone
28 January 2011 – 4 September 2011
2011-09-04
28 January 2011 – 4 September 2011
2011-09-04
2011-01-28
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2011-01-28
Single Form: the body in sculpture from Rodin to Hepworth
Collection based display
The Birth of Venus
object: 1289 × 533 × 356 mm
Presented by the Trustees of the <a href="/search?gid=999999977" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Chantrey Bequest</a> 1931
<p>McMillan was born in Aberdeen and studied at art schools in Aberdeen and London. He was Head of the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/s/sculpture" title="Glossary definition for 'Sculpture'"><span>Sculpture</span></a> School at the Royal Academy from 1929-40. He began to exhibit sculpture at the Royal Academy Summer exhibitions in 1917 and continued to do so until the 1940s. 'The Birth of Venus' was shown there in 1931 and made specifically for exhibition purposes, although McMillan usually worked on commissions. Significant public works by the artist include fountains in Trafalgar Square and Regent's Park, a <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portrait</span></a> of George VI in the Mall, London, and a double portrait in stone of the pilots Alcock and Brown at Heathrow airport.</p>
Display caption
2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N04602</b> THE BIRTH OF VENUS <i>c.</i> 1931</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not inscribed.
<br/>Portland stone, 50 3/4×21×14 (129×53·5×35·5).
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1931.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> R.A., 1931 (1639).
<br/><i>Repr:Royal Academy Illustrated</i>, 1931, pl.122; Eric G. Underwood, <i>A Short History of English Sculpture</i>, 1933, pl.48.
<br/>
<br/>[no further details]
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, II
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-07-20T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions adults Aphrodite / Venus arm / arms raised Birth of Venus classical myths: events, themes classical myths: gods and heroes female legs crossed nudes people religion and belief woman