Sandro Botticelli 14451510 Italian Renaissance

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Sandro Botticelli1445-1510Italian Renaissance
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Young Man with Medal

• Born to a wealthy family, Sandro Botticelli
  (bot-i-chell-ee) 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.
• His name means the little barrel. Scholars
  think it was originally his overweight older
  brothers nickname, then adopted by Sandro.
• 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.

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Guiliano dMedici 1475

• Botticellis reputation was set by the patronage
  of the powerful Medici (med-i-chi) 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 show his
  status.

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Adoration of the Magi 1475

• In this painting of the Magi attending the Christ
  child, Botticelli has used portraits of his
  patrons as the faces. Hes even painted himself
  into the picture--hes in the brown robe on the
  right. Notice the bright colors and precise
  detailing in the faces and background. Does the
  picture feel dynamic or static?

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Primavera 1478

• One of his most famous paintings, Primavera
  portrays a celebration of spring. It uses
  classical gods 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.

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Primavera

• These details 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. 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--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?

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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 set, 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? Is this real or idealized?

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Birth of Venus

• These details show Botticellis 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?
• The flowers show his background in the workshop
  system, where he would have spent years doing the
  backgrounds for commissions for Fra Lippi. The
  delicacy and color, however, are unique to
  Botticelli.

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Cestello Annunciation 1479

• In addition to working in Florence, Botticelli
  had a Roman commission to work on the Sistine
  Chapel, 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.

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Cestello Annunciation

• 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 protégé 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
  largely disappeared from view until the 19th
  century, when his work was rediscovered in
  Europe.