Sandro Botticelli was an Italian painter of the Florentine and Italian Renaissance. At the height of his success, he was easily one of the most admired artists in Italy because of his mythological and secular paintings. During this deep analysis on one his greatest works, “The Birth of Venus”, (1486), you’ll be able to learn the story behind the painting. Before you begin reading, do you believe Botticelli faced any backlash from the public for his secular paintings? Do you think his religious paintings still received good praise? What sort of impact do you think Botticelli had during the Florentine and Italian Renaissance?
Sandro Botticelli
As a kid, Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi was very intelligent for his age, yet impatient, which soon led to him becoming more and more bored and disinterested in school. Born the son of a tanner on March 1st, 1445, he was given the nickname “Botticelli,” meaning “small wine cask”, because of his older brother Giovanni, who was a pawnbroker. Their father apprenticed Botticelli to become a goldsmith after school was done. However, he preferred paintings, so his father placed him under Filippo Lippi, a highly admired Florentine master at the time. Botticelli learned a lot from Lippi. He learned techniques such as, but not limited to, control of linear perspective, and strong color schemes. Lippi influenced Botticelli’s own art style, later improving his artwork with the skills he learned from him. Botticelli’s artwork soon shaped into a style full of naturalism combined with conceptions of ideal beauty in his religious and non-religious paintings. He began his career by working with the painter and engraver Antonio del Pollaiuolo. With his own workshop established located in Florence, Italy in 1470, he was overwhelmed with requests for him to take part and create paintings for religious institutions like churches and cathedrals, public and private places for display, and for the sake of the Italian and Florentine Renaissance. The Florentine and Italian Renaissance were periods where people gained inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome in several fields of study. The artwork and ideas that came from these times continue to influence and shape the art world today, especially with the help of Botticelli’s paintings like…
One of his greatest works is “The Birth of Venus”, (1486), alongside many other paintings like his “The Mystical Nativity”, (1500) and “Primavera”, (1482). ‘The Birth of Venus” portrays the ancient Roman belief system by reflecting Italy’s admiration of the Roman Empire. There are four total characters in this painting including Venus, Flora, Zephyr, and Zephyr’s counterpart, Chloris. Venus, the goddess of love, also known as Aphrodite, is the main figure in the painting who’s emerging from the waters, being born from the sea foam while floating on a shell. Flora, the goddess of flowers, is standing on the right of the painting scattering flowers with a veil or blanket in her hands, symbolizing the full and rich energy of Venus’ birth. Zephyr, the god of wind, is gently guiding Venus to safety by blowing air, also signaling that spring has arrived. Chloris, a nymph who’s often associated with flowers and the springtime, stays by his side while also scattering some flowers to symbolize beauty and a new life. The flowers play a small but important role in the painting because of its symbolism in fertility, renewal, love and beauty. Botticelli has portrayed Venus with an idealized image of divine beauty from that time by showcasing her with beauty standards like pale, flawless skin, soft expressions, long flowing silky hair, and in the nude.
Botticelli’s Impact
Botticelli played a major role in the Florentine and Italian Renaissance by helping to elevate secular and mythological paintings and art in general. He did an excellent job in capturing the beauty and grace of his figures while influencing generations of artists after his death on May 17th, 1510 with classical themes, naturalism, and humanism. After following along, how might Botticelli’s religious and non religious paintings influence the Florentine and Italian Renaissance? How did his upbringing influence his art style in your opinion? What other artists can you compare Botticelli to? Thank you for following along and do not forget to click the comment button on the right-hand side to share your opinions and critiques on this matter! Tune in for more The Art of Love: articles.
Sources:
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- https://bibliophiliaforever.wordpress.com/2016/12/04/decoding-art-the-birth-of-venus-by-sandro-botticelli/
- https://renaissancewomen.commons.gc.cuny.edu/the-birth-of-venus/
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- https://www.oxfordartonline.com/groveart/display/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000010385
