Is Beyonce meant to be Venus? The hidden meaning behind Lemonade star’s naked pregnancy photos which perfectly mirror famous paintings from history
The 35-year-old singer's maternity shoot gives a nod to iconic Renaissance paintings
SHE’S delighted fans by giving an intimate insight into her pregnancy with an artistic maternity shoot.
But it seems Beyonce, who is expecting twins with husband Jay Z, has taken inspiration from three iconic paintings - two of which nod to Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
The 35-year-old global superstar shared the personal shoot on her website, , under the title: “I have three hearts.”
In one bold snap, Beyonce poses topless, using her hand and long curly hair to cover her nipples, while a floral-print pair of nude tights adorn her legs.
Bey gazes confidently into the camera while standing amongst wild plants.
The image is a near clone of Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus painting, which dates back to the mid-1940s.
The famous oil canvas, which depicts Venus emerging from the sea as an adult woman, is one of the most heralded works of the Renaissance.
It is a lasting symbol of feminine grace and beauty.
Next to Beyonce is a statue of Nefertiti, the Egyptian queen and the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, whose name means “a beautiful woman has come”.
Nefertiti is one of the most powerful women ever to have ruled and her husband went to great lengths to display her as an equal. She is often depicted in a crown.
Beyonce also enlisted the help of her five-year-old daughter Blue Ivy for a number of the shots.
One provocative portrait sees the Single Ladies hit maker reclining on a chaise lounge while wearing a white lace bra. A peach-coloured scarf is draped across her bum.
She stares at Blue Ivy, dressed in a nude one-piece, as the youngster hands her a flower.
The image appears to be a replica of Guido Reni’s Reclining Venus With Cupid.
Reni’s painting was inspired by Giorgione’s Sleeping Venus, which depicts the goddess of love lying down in the nude with her arm behind her head.
The choice of a naked woman marked a revolution, and is considered by some critics to be the starting point of modern art.
It is not supposed to be a sexual painting but a representation of memories of love.
The image Beyonce used to announce her pregnancy also has its roots in Renaissance art.
The Destiny's Child icon exposed her baby bump while dressed in a burgundy bra, frilly silk blue knickers and a green veil.
The heavily-styled shot sees her looking directly into the camera while kneeling down in front of a floral display.
The image is near-identical to Jan Brueghel the Elder’s Madonna in Floral Wreath.
A Madonna is a representation of Mary, either alone or with her child Jesus.
These images are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
The word is from Italian, meaning 'my lady'.
Bunches, garlands and wreaths of flowers were generally associated with fertility and nature.
The Flemish artist used such wreaths as foliate frames for landscapes or devotional scenes at the centre.
Beyonce captioned the picture: “We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. – The Carters.”
Beyonce also shared a poem by Warsan Shire which gave a nod to Venus, who encompasses beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory.
It read: “Venus has flooded me, second planet from the sun, I wake up on her foamy shore.
“She wants to take me to meet my children. I’ve done this before I’m still nervous.”
It continued: “In the dream I am crowning, Osun, Neferetiti, and Yemoja pray around my bed, I can smell jasmine I wake up as someone places a wreath upon my head.
“Girl turning into woman, woman turning into mother, mother turning into Venus.”
The poem concluded: “I’m watching life inside me grow; there’s life growing inside of me and I’m beside myself with dreams.
“Was it your voice I heard? You speak to me from inside me, I have three hearts.”
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Bey has also uploaded the portraits alongside candid shots of her wedding day, holidays with her family and gorgeous behind-the-scenes shots of her A-list life.
Beyonce didn’t give any further details of when the babies will arrive, but their arrival will come five years after herself and Jay Z had their first child.
The happy news comes nine years after the couple tied the knot in a private wedding ceremony in April 2008.
Fans first started to speculate the Crazy in Love star might be expecting after she released the latest
trailer for her Ivy Park clothing range.
The star later revealed she had miscarried a child around 2010, describing it as the "saddest thing" she had ever been through.
Meanwhile, Beyonce's twin announcement has led some fans to believes is a member of the Illuminati.
Beyonce's devoted fans have been sharing hilarious memes about her pregnancy on social media.
Rihanna, Rita Ora and Hailey Baldwin are among the A-list stars who have congratulated the couple.