Crossword Genius

Soil – mud, even – shaped for sculpture (5,2,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

venus de milo

'sculpture' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'soil mud even shaped' is the wordplay.
'shaped' indicates anagramming the letters.
'soil'+'mud'+'even'='soilmudeven'
'soilmudeven' anagrammed gives 'VENUS DE MILO'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for venus de milo that I've seen before include "Famous armless statue" , "Renowned sculpture in the Louvre" , "Ancient statue" , "Famous sculpture" , "topless work" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app