Sandro Botticelli 1445-1510 Italian Renaissance

1. Sandro Botticelli1445-1510Italian Renaissance

2. Young Man with Medal, 1474 Botticelli Available in the FTE Library Botticelli, Venezia Born to a wealthy family, Sandro Botticelli was first trained as a goldsmith, then apprenticed to the painting master Fra Lippi. He set up his own workshop at the age of 25. Some scholars think this may be a self portrait of Botticelli at the age of 30. The medal shows the image of one of his sponsors. A sponsor was a wealthy person who gave an artist money so that he could live while pursuing his art. Botticelli Available in the FTE Library Botticelli, Venezia Born to a wealthy family, Sandro Botticelli was first trained as a goldsmith, then apprenticed to the painting master Fra Lippi. He set up his own workshop at the age of 25. Some scholars think this may be a self portrait of Botticelli at the age of 30. The medal shows the image of one of his sponsors. A sponsor was a wealthy person who gave an artist money so that he could live while pursuing his art.

3. Guiliano d�Medici, 1475 Botticelli�s reputation was set by the patronage of the powerful Medici family of Florence, where he lived. The Medici were known for their intellectual vigor and support of the arts. They wanted to help revive the ancient Roman and Greek traditions of Italy, which are at the heart of the Renaissance. Notice how expensive the fabrics and surfaces are in this picture. The patron wanted to make sure that this portrait showed his status. Botticelli�s reputation was set by the patronage of the powerful Medici family of Florence, where he lived. The Medici were known for their intellectual vigor and support of the arts. They wanted to help revive the ancient Roman and Greek traditions of Italy, which are at the heart of the Renaissance. Notice how expensive the fabrics and surfaces are in this picture. The patron wanted to make sure that this portrait showed his status.

4. Adoration of the Magi, 1475 Much of the art in the Italian Renaissance uses the Christian religion as its subject matter. In this painting of the three wise men attending the baby Jesus, Botticelli has used portraits of his patrons as the faces. He�s even painted himself into the picture--he�s in the brown robe on the right. Notice the bright colors and precise detailing in the faces and background. Does the picture feel dynamic (having a lot of movement) or static (being very still)? Much of the art in the Italian Renaissance uses the Christian religion as its subject matter. In this painting of the three wise men attending the baby Jesus, Botticelli has used portraits of his patrons as the faces. He�s even painted himself into the picture--he�s in the brown robe on the right. Notice the bright colors and precise detailing in the faces and background. Does the picture feel dynamic (having a lot of movement) or static (being very still)?

5. Primavera, 1478 One of his most famous paintings, Primavera portrays a celebration of spring. It uses classical gods from Roman mythology to tell the story. On the left is Mercury, here representing knowledge. Next to him are the Three Graces. In the center is Venus, the goddess of beauty, with Cupid, her son, overhead. On the right is the spring wind touching his wife, goddess of flowers, who stands next to Flora, the goddess of plants. Notice how flowers flow out of her mouth. One of his most famous paintings, Primavera portrays a celebration of spring. It uses classical gods from Roman mythology to tell the story. On the left is Mercury, here representing knowledge. Next to him are the Three Graces. In the center is Venus, the goddess of beauty, with Cupid, her son, overhead. On the right is the spring wind touching his wife, goddess of flowers, who stands next to Flora, the goddess of plants. Notice how flowers flow out of her mouth.

6. Primavera, details These details of Primavera show Flora and the Three Graces. Botticelli is known for his elegant use of line. He often created a sense of his figures floating in front of decorative backgrounds. His work has been called �visual poetry�. What do you think that means? Notice how the figures all have clear edges--almost as though they were outlined first and then filled in. Instead of receding into the background--like works by da Vinci or Rembrandt� Botticelli's figures burst off the plane of the pictures. Some think that his works have a sense of sadness, even in celebratory works like this one. What do you think? These details of Primavera show Flora and the Three Graces. Botticelli is known for his elegant use of line. He often created a sense of his figures floating in front of decorative backgrounds. His work has been called �visual poetry�. What do you think that means? Notice how the figures all have clear edges--almost as though they were outlined first and then filled in. Instead of receding into the background--like works by da Vinci or Rembrandt� Botticelli's figures burst off the plane of the pictures. Some think that his works have a sense of sadness, even in celebratory works like this one. What do you think?

7. The Birth of Venus, 1478 One of the most famous paintings ever made, �The Birth of Venus� relays the story of the Roman goddess of love, Venus. She was born of the seas and came to the isle of Cyprus fully grown. On her left are two of the winds; on her right is thought to be one of the Graces holding a robe for her. Scholars think this was painted along with �Primavera� as a pair, and they do share many characteristics. What commonalities do you notice? Notice how detailed the background plants and flowers are. Do you notice the outlining of the forms? Does this painting feel real to you? What do you think of it? One of the most famous paintings ever made, �The Birth of Venus� relays the story of the Roman goddess of love, Venus. She was born of the seas and came to the isle of Cyprus fully grown. On her left are two of the winds; on her right is thought to be one of the Graces holding a robe for her. Scholars think this was painted along with �Primavera� as a pair, and they do share many characteristics. What commonalities do you notice? Notice how detailed the background plants and flowers are. Do you notice the outlining of the forms? Does this painting feel real to you? What do you think of it?

8. Birth of Venus, details These details show Botticelli�s use of line. Notice how the figures--whether a flower or Venus--have an outline which contains the object. The image of Venus has been called one of the most lovely in the history of art. What is special about this image? Does she look happy? Sad? Wise? Content? Angry? The flowers show his background in the workshop system, where he would have spent years doing the backgrounds for commissions for other artists. The delicacy and color, however, are unique to Botticelli. These details show Botticelli�s use of line. Notice how the figures--whether a flower or Venus--have an outline which contains the object. The image of Venus has been called one of the most lovely in the history of art. What is special about this image? Does she look happy? Sad? Wise? Content? Angry? The flowers show his background in the workshop system, where he would have spent years doing the backgrounds for commissions for other artists. The delicacy and color, however, are unique to Botticelli.

9. Cestello Annunciation,1479 In addition to working in Florence, Botticelli had a Roman commission to work on the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican where he did a cycle of frescoes on Moses. He worked with many topics, both religious and secular. In this work, he shows an angel visiting Mary. Notice the perspective--how the floor design draws your eye back through the window. Notice too, that this painting uses perspective � there is a clear demarcation between what is near and what is far away. This use of perspective was new in Renaissance painting. In 1490, the Medici family was expelled from Florence, and the city entered a period of severe religious reform, in which many works of art and writings were destroyed. As a prot�g� of the Medici family, Botticelli had trouble getting good commissions after they lost power. His later work is not considered as strong as the works we have seen. Many of his later works are dark and sober, unlike his earlier paintings. Unlike most Renaissance masters, Botticelli�s works largely disappeared from view until the 19th century, when his work was �rediscovered� in Europe. In addition to working in Florence, Botticelli had a Roman commission to work on the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican where he did a cycle of frescoes on Moses. He worked with many topics, both religious and secular. In this work, he shows an angel visiting Mary. Notice the perspective--how the floor design draws your eye back through the window. Notice too, that this painting uses perspective � there is a clear demarcation between what is near and what is far away. This use of perspective was new in Renaissance painting. In 1490, the Medici family was expelled from Florence, and the city entered a period of severe religious reform, in which many works of art and writings were destroyed. As a prot�g� of the Medici family, Botticelli had trouble getting good commissions after they lost power. His later work is not considered as strong as the works we have seen. Many of his later works are dark and sober, unlike his earlier paintings. Unlike most Renaissance masters, Botticelli�s works largely disappeared from view until the 19th century, when his work was �rediscovered� in Europe.