Description
It is a life-size Hellenistic marble statue, dating from the late first century BCE. During the Renaissance, with the fevered fashion of collecting that existed among the leading families of Florence, it was probably purchased by Cardinal Ferdinando de Medici for placement at the Villa Medici. It is first documented in 1638; in 1677 it was brought to Florence by Cosimo III, who despite his reputation as an extremely sanctimonious person, had no difficulties placing the beautiful naked goddess of love in the Tribuna of the Uffizi. Since then it has occupied a privileged place in the collection of antique statues at the museum.