[citation needed] The wringing of her hair is a direct imitation of Apelles's lost masterwork of the same title.

[2] Titian deliberately included this detail to prove that he could rival the art of antiquity in which the goddess was also washing her hair—a fact mentioned in Pliny's Natural History.

[citation needed] The painting is in good condition and achieved public ownership in 2003 when it was purchased from Francis Egerton, 7th Duke of Sutherland.

[2] It was once owned by Christina of Sweden, and passed via the Orleans Collection to 6th Duke of Sutherland, who lent it and 26 other paintings to the National Gallery of Scotland in 1945.

Also contributing to the purchase were the Wolfson Foundation, the Heritage Lottery Fund (£7.6m), and the Scottish Executive (£2.5m).