Who Is Your Nude Alter-Ego From Art History?

You are calm under pressure, serious and disciplined. In theory, you dominated the Ancient pentathlon – although your throwing technique has been frequently questioned. 19th century Art Historian Johann Winckelmann called you ‘severe’ because of your self-contained grandeur and heroic spirit. For you it’s the theory that counts!

Art historian EH Gombrich called you an ‘infinitely tender and delicate being’. You don’t mind the nymphs being on hand with your new outfit from this year’s Spring collection. You are of your moment: you star in the Birth of Venus at the beginning of the ‘Renaissance’ which means ‘re-birth’.

[Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, Uffizi Gallery, Florence]

You are clever and self-confident. At parties, your natural contrapposto posture and relaxed attitude makes strangers feel comfortable approaching you and certain you will be interesting. Alert to unfairness, you are always ready to stick up for your mates – even against people much bigger than you!

You are exuberant and generous. Art Historian Kenneth Clark is a fan: He says you are 'free from pettiness, … jealousy or frustration’ and ‘have the sweetness of flowing water'. Your unselfconsciousness and optimistic nature could make you a little too trusting.

You are elegantly frivolous and utterly charming. You can be messy and careless but your bubbliness lets you get away with it. You are completely comfortable in your skin at home but when you hit the town you love to be dressed to the nines. Your vivacity knows no bounds.

You like to keep it real. Unpretentious and independent, you don’t mind stripping off for a skinny-dip in the creek with your mates on the summer holidays. Most comfortable in the midst of nature, even as you queue for coffee on the way to the office, you yearn for the Arcadian freedom of ancient times.

Your label in the Louvre art museum in Paris says you are ‘vibrant, fiery, rebellious, and victorious’. A force of nature, you are also a bit of a troublemaker. Emotional, spirited and resolute, you would never let a wardrobe malfunction slow you down!

Living in the moment and ruthlessly self-aware, you are in touch with the intensity of your own feelings. You dive deep into conversations about the meaning of life and look for ways to scare yourself a little. You prefer some turmoil … If things get too routine, you get edgy.