Lely_Venus Lely Venus is an instance of the Crouching Venus type of Hellenistic marble statue. It is of Antonine date. Gonzaga collection in Mantua, where it was inventoried in the Gonzaga collection in 1627 Whilst there it was seen by the artist Rubens, who stayed with the Gonzaga family whilst on the continent on diplomatic and art-collecting duties for Charles I of England.