TheOldMastersPrintsThe Birth of Venus by William-Adolphe Bouguereau: meaning, location and key facts
The Birth of Venus is an oil on canvas by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, painted in 1879. It measures 300 × 218 cm and is held at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Key facts
| Artist | William-Adolphe Bouguereau |
|---|---|
| Date | 1879 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 300 × 218 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Musée d'Orsay, Paris |
| Style | Academic art |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q1283024) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
Venus, naked, rises on a shell drawn by dolphins, arms raised to gather her hair. She is surrounded by nereids, tritons blowing conch shells and a ring of cupids in the sky.
Bouguereau arranges the scene in a spiral, with light colours and a smooth finish without visible brushstrokes. It quotes both Botticelli and Raphael’s Triumph of Galatea.
Did you know?
- It was shown at the Salon of 1879 and the French state bought it the same year.
- It should not be confused with Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, in the Uffizi in Florence.
- It is now on display at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
Where to see the original
The Birth of Venus is at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
| A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) | above the sofa or as a living-room centrepiece |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Birth of Venus?
- The original is held at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
- How big is The Birth of Venus?
- The original painting measures 300 × 218 cm (height × width).
- Who painted The Birth of Venus and when?
- It was painted by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1879.
- Can I hang a reproduction of The Birth of Venus at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2, A1 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €64.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
