Ekphrasis 2

At first glance, the eyes move across the body through the arms of the figure which create a lightning bolt flow.  Tracing from the right arm across her breasts, to her hand which slightly grazes her left arm, down the left from her stomach to her covered center.  From her center, we follow to her fingertips, which rest high on her right thigh.  At this point, the eyes move down her right leg which is slightly bent, allowing you to perceive the curvature of her tall thin structure.  Down her left calf to her foot, the heel is lifted from the base, her toes pointed to the right, her left foot pointed in your direction as you first enter the octagonal room.  The bottom half of the marble statue of the figure rests gently next to a marble vase with smooth linens across its top, allowing the statue some sense of stability.  The linens drape down the vase, with thin fringes hanging from the bottom.  The large center of the vase protrudes under the linens, with vertical lines tracing down its length to a base with a smaller diameter.  After inspecting the limbs, the eyes move up her body to her face.  Her long curly hair is the most detailed part of her, with a delicate bun on the top of her head, and layers falling below it.  She glances to the right, showing you her profile.  A sharp nose leads you down to her slightly upturned lips, down to her curved chin and up her jawline.  Before leaving the small room, you glance once more at her structure and realize that the simplicity of this piece eases you, her presence eases you.       

(Capitoline Museum, The Capitoline Venus, the first half of the 2nd century AD, after a Greek work from the late 4th century BC, gift from Pope Benedict xiv, 1752)