Venus Rising from her Couch

James Ward painted "Venus Rising from her Couch" in 1828, an unusual mythological subject for an artist best known for his animal painting and landscapes. Ward's ambition to compete with the historical painters of his era led him to attempt subjects outside his established range. The painting demonstrates the breadth of Ward's artistic ambitions, even if his reputation remained primarily tied to his animal subjects.

Ward renders the mythological figure with the same attention to physical form he brought to his animal paintings. The warm palette and the emphasis on physical presence rather than classical idealization give the painting a distinctive earthiness.