How do museum curators decide what name they will use on a work of art whick is known as two different names? (for example: Aphrodite of Milos or Venus di Milo)
by 
Marguerite
ANSWERS: 1
-
Usually, by research. I prefer to use titles in the original language of the artist who made the work, plus a translation into the local language of the museum (for example: Jasper Johns, White Flag / Weisse Fahne - if the painting is shown in a German museum). Concerniong the example you give, that is a translation issue: Aphrodite is the Greek name of the Roman Venus. It would depend on the context where you would use the title. If it is about Greek art, I would use the first title, if it is about Roman art (many Greek sculptures were copied by artists from Rome), I would use the second, but not necessarily in Italian like in your example. Venus of Milos might work, too. Titling works of art can be a complex thing.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC