What is the story behind the birth of Venus?
The Birth of Venus ( Italian: Nascita di Venere [ˈnaʃʃita di ˈvɛːnere]) is a painting by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli, probably made in the mid 1480s. It depicts the goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth, when she had emerged from the sea fully-grown (called Venus Anadyomene and often depicted in art).
What is the face of Venus in the birth of Venus?
Detail: the face of Venus. The Birth of Venus ( Italian: Nascita di Venere [ˈnaʃʃita di ˈvɛːnere]) is a painting by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli, probably made in the mid 1480s. It depicts the goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth, when she had emerged from the sea fully-grown ...
What is the size of the birth of Venus painting?
Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus (c. 1484–1486). Tempera on canvas. 172.5 cm × 278.9 cm (67.9 in × 109.6 in). The Birth of Venus (Italian: Nascita di Venere [ˈnaʃʃita di ˈvɛːnere]) is a painting by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli, probably made in the mid 1480s.
When did Botticelli make the birth of Venus?
Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus (c. 1484–86). Tempera on canvas. 172.5 cm × 278.9 cm (67.9 in × 109.6 in). The Birth of Venus (Italian: Nascita di Venere [ˈnaʃʃita di ˈvɛːnere]) is a painting by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli probably made in the mid 1480s.
Who is the goddess in The Birth of Venus?
She is believed to be either Horae, the Goddess of seasons, or Hora, the Goddess of Spring. She is rushing to Venus with a beautiful floral cloak to cover her nakedness. The Goddess has a weightless, graceful beauty. The flowers on her dress symbolise birth and the myrtle around her neck symbolises Venus.
Who are the people in The Birth of Venus painting?
Other sources suggest The Birth of Venus painting was made to flatter the head of the Medici family, Lorenzo de Medici. Some believe the figure of Venus was made in the likeness of Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci, who was the wife of the Florentine merchant, Marco Vespucci.
What is the message behind The Birth of Venus?
Known as the “Birth of Venus”, the composition actually shows the goddess of love and beauty arriving on land, on the island of Cyprus, born of the sea spray and blown there by the winds, Zephyr and, perhaps, Aura.
Who was Botticelli's muse?
Simonetta Cattaneo VespucciThose who watched the tv show Medici, were left wondering about the real story of Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci, the noblewoman considered to have been the muse of Sandro Botticelli.
Why is the Mona Lisa so famous?
The Mona Lisa's fame is the result of many chance circumstances combined with the painting's inherent appeal. There is no doubt that the Mona Lisa is a very good painting. It was highly regarded even as Leonardo worked on it, and his contemporaries copied the then novel three-quarter pose.
Who painted Aphrodite?
artist Sandro BotticelliThe group choice for Aphrodite is “ The Birth of Venus” which is a painting by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli in about the mid 1480s, and it is stored in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
Is the birth of Venus Aphrodite?
The painting shows the triumphant Goddess of Love and Beauty. The Romans knew her as Venus, while for the Greeks she was Aphrodite.
Is the birth of Venus religious?
A unique mythological painting from the Renaissance in Florence, and the first non-religious nude since classical antiquity, The Birth of Venus (Nascita di Venere) belongs to the group of mythological pictures painted by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) in the 1480s, following his return from Rome after completing three ...
What poem is The Birth of Venus based on?
The basis of this painting is reputed to be part of a poem – Stanze per la giostra –by the Renaissance scholar Angelo Poliziano – a friend of Lorenzo (il Magnifico) di Medici and the professor who taught his children – he is shown below in the fresco by Ghirlandio in the Sassetti Chapel in Chiesa Santa Trinita with ...
Who is Botticelli's wife?
Simonetta VespucciPortrait of a woman, said to be of Simonetta Vespucci (c. 1490) by Piero di CosimoBorn1453 Genoa or Portovenere, Republic of GenoaDied26 April 1476 (aged 22–23) Florence, Republic of FlorenceSpouse(s)Marco Vespucci ( m. 1469)1 more row
Who was Botticelli's model?
Simonetta VespucciSimonetta Vespucci, the muse who was a model both for Botticelli and many others, died at the age of 23.
Who was Botticelli's niece?
Ellen Miller - Jewelry Designer Botticelli's Niece - Bottecelli's Niece | LinkedIn.
Who painted the Birth of Venus in 1879?
Here is what Wikipedia says about The Birth of Venus (Bouguereau) The Birth of Venus (French: La Naissance de Vénus) is one of the most famous paintings by 19th-century painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau.
Who was one of the first artists to use the Netherlandish style of painting?
One of the first artists to use the netherlandish style of painting was Robert Campin,he was a very great painter and had a realistic observation with great powers of displays which was very rarely seen in any other artists.
What colors are used in the Birth of Venus painting?
Botticelli created his Venus during the Renaissance, which is evident in the style of the painting. Botticelli used Tempera on Canvas. The color scheme I observe is mostly complementary using 5 Main colors, those being blue, orange, red, green, and white.
Why is the birth of Venus important to the Renaissance?
With The Birth of Venus, Botticelli revived the mythological interests found in Classical antiquity. Specifically, he adopted Venus (or Aphrodite, her Greek equivalent)—a particularly popular figure in ancient art, including the Venus de Milo, a famous sculpture from the first century BC—as his subject.
Who Was Alessandro Botticelli?
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, or just Sandro, Botticelli was born in Florence in Borgo Ognissanti. He was born between 1444 and 1446 and...
Who Was Venus?
Not only was The Birth of Venus by Botticelli a magnificent canvas showcasing a mythological scene and fit for a country villa, but it also showcas...
Who Painted The Birth of Venus?
The Birth of Venus (c. 1484 to 1486) painting was made by Alessandro Botticelli, who was an artist from the Early Renaissance period in Italy. Alth...
When Was The Birth of Venus Painted?
The Birth of Venus was painted around 1484 to 1486. This was during the Early Renaissance period in Italy, a period that spanned the 1400s. It was...
Where Is The Birth of Venus?
Presently, The Birth of Venus (c. 1484 to 1486) painting is housed at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. It is believed that the painting was r...
Where Was The Birth of Venus Painted?
It is believed that after Sandro Botticelli worked on frescoes for the Sistine Chapel in Rome in 1481, he returned to his city of birth, Florence,...
What was the birth of Venus?
The Birth of Venus painting was created during the 1400s, which was a period in European history that saw a lot of cultural and economic changes. Notable changes that took place during this time included the ending of feudalism, which changed the European economic and social landscape. This was a transitionary period from the Middle Ages ( Medieval period) and art styles progressed from Byzantine to Romanesque and then Gothic.
When was Venus born?
A detail of Venus from Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, c. 1485; Sandro Botticelli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
What is Venus' hair color?
Venus is depicted as the embodiment of beauty; her skin is smooth and milky in color without any blemish. Her hair is also golden and hangs almost the full length of her body. This hairstyle is also reported to have been inspired by women’s hairstyles of the time Botticelli lived.
When did Botticelli paint Venus?
It was here that Botticelli was commissioned to paint The Birth of Venus, which was from 1484 to 1486.
How is Venus portrayed?
The figure of Venus is also portrayed with exaggerated anatomy, overall, her body is quite elongated. We see this elongation emphasized in her neck and in the depiction of her arms, mostly her left (our right) arm covering her genitalia with her hair.
How big is the painting of the Primavera?
The painting is large in scale, measuring 1.72 x 2.78 meters. It is also slightly smaller than Botticelli’s La Primavera (c. 1482 to 1483). If it was the case where this painting was made for the Medici family, it was made to adorn a wall space perfectly fit for private living space compared to public spaces.
What is the meaning of Botticelli's birth of Venus?
Some sources also describe the Christian interpretation for Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and that it is symbolic of and influenced by the Baptism of Christ. It is compared to two other Renaissance paintings to illustrate this idea, namely, Giotto’s The Baptism of Christ (c. 1305) and Piero Della Francesca’s painting of the same name (1448 to 1450).
What is Venus powered by?
Venus thus is powered by the winds of passion. Perhaps the female figure is the nymph Chloris.
What is Botticelli's Venus like?
Botticelli’s Venus seems pure and innocent—almost virginal in her modesty. She advances towards us, along the surface of the sea that is rippled by waves, in all her grace and beauty… almost like an ancient statue.
Did Botticelli study the statue of the Medici family?
In fact, Botticelli used this ancient statue for reference… a statue that was in the Medici family collection. Botticelli would have had the opportunity to study it in his spare time.
Who painted the Medici family?
It has long been suggested that Botticelli was commissioned to paint the piece by the Medici family – specifically influenced by Lorenzo il Magnifico.
Did Botticelli fall in love with Simonetta?
Simonetta was truly a fascinating woman and rumors say that Botticelli fell in love with her. But they didn’t have a story. Instead of an affair of the heart, they had an affair of art as Simonetta modeled for Botticelli for many, many paintings.
What is the birth of Venus?
Like the Primavera, the Birth of Venus is also associated with the concept of Humanitas,or virtuous Humanity, a theory developed by Marsilio Ficino in a letter to the young Lorenzo. According to the interpretation by Ernst Gombrich, the work depicts the symbolic fusion of Spirit and Matter, the harmonious interaction of Idea and Nature. Nevertheless, the interpretations of this painting of extraordinary visual impact are numerous and diverse. The divine ethereal figure has been viewed as an allegorical representation of Humanitas upon her arrival to Florence, while the nymph holding out the cloak of flowers for the goddess may perhaps be identified as Flora, the same depicted in this masterpiece’s “twin”, the Primavera, where she may be seen instead as the personification of the city of Florence. From this work emerges clear evidence of Botticell’s strive to reach perfection of form that could rival with classical antiquity. It is for this reason that the humanist Ugolino Verino in his work Epigrammata, presented in 1485 to the King of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus, likened the Florentine painter to the legendary Apelles of Ancient Greece.
What type of goddess is Venus?
The Venus of the Uffizi is of the “Venus pudica” type, whose right breast is covered by her right hand and billowing long blond hair partially shrouds her body. The goddess stands upright on a shell as she is driven towards the shore by the breeze of Zephyrus, a wind god, who is holding the nymph, Chloris.
What is the birth of Venus painted on?
Like Botticelli’s other masterpiece, Pallas and the Centaur, the Birth of Venus is painted on canvas - fairly unusual for its time - using a technique of thin tempera, based on the use of diluted egg yolk, ...
When was the Venus painting painted?
This universal icon of Western painting was probably painted around 1484 for the villa of Castello owned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de 'Medici. Giorgio Vasari saw the work there in the mid-sixteenth century – along with Botticelli’s other well-known Primavera – and described it precisely as "showing the Birth of Venus.".
Who was the king of Hungary who likened the Florentine painter to the legendary Apelles of?
It is for this reason that the humanist Ugolino Verino in his work Epigrammata, presented in 1485 to the King of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus, likened the Florentine painter to the legendary Apelles of Ancient Greece.
Who wrote the birth of Venus?
Beauty and Myth | The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. By Shauna Burdis Last updated Jun 5, 2019. The Renaissance was one of the greatest periods of creative and intellectual achievement in world history.
What is Venus's pose?
Venus in her shell is the focus of the painting. She stands in the contrapposto pose with her leg slightly bent and one foot slightly up. Her pose is modest as she is aware of her nakedness, while her body is completely elongated and idealised. Her face is one of the most beautiful faces in art history and is said to have been modelled from a mistress of the Medicis, with whom Botticelli was believed to have been in love. Venus is idealised as a beauty but also as a religious figure.
What was the Renaissance?
The early Renaissance was the rebirth of classical values. It was evident that mythology and symbolism were two major concerns of the painter Sandro Botticelli. Although these two elements were at the heart of his work, Botticelli also loved the idealism of women. He believed beyond natural beauty.
What is the canvas used for in the painting of Venus?
Canvas is known to have been the preferred material for painting of secular and pagan subjects. The painting depicts the image of Venus being blown gently to shore on a shell by a Zephyr and Chloris. She lands on the island of Cyprus. In this mythical story, it is said that Venus was born as a fully-grown woman.
When was Venus painted?
The Birth of Venus was painted in 1484. It was painted with tempera on canvas, a popular and cheap choice for secular work. The canvas was a less expensive painting surface than the wooden panels used in church and court pictures. A wooden surface would have been impractical for a piece of this scale.
Who created the perfect woman?
However, the idealism of the female figure and his love of the perfect woman is at the heart of his work. As seen in his paintings, Botticelli created the most perfect, idealistic woman from his muse, the mistress of the Medicis into the flawless Venus.
Who raised Botticelli?
Initially, he trained as a goldsmith with his brother Antonio, who raised Botticelli and gave him the nickname ‘Botticelli’, meaning little barrel. By around 1462, he was apprenticed by Fra Filippo Lippi, who taught Botticelli about his now most recognised characteristic; idealism and the slightly melancholic image of female beauty. This wistful beauty is also found in Lippi’s ‘Madonna and Child’.
Who is Venus in the painting?
This is how this most celebrated woman of Italian Renaissance was described, because born in Porto Venere (Venus' port) by the sea and portrayed by Botticelli as Venus, the goddess of Beauty and Love in his most famous masterwork "the birth of Venus", today at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The painting shows the Goddess of Love and Beauty standing naked at the center of the canvas, looking perfect and ethereal, as symbol of both spiritual and physical beauty.
Who was the painter who painted Madonnas and Goddesses?
The great painter Sandro Botticelli represented her beautiful face in his Madonnas and Goddesses and, so deeply in love with her, asked to be buried at her feet in the Florentine church of Ognissanti.
Who was Botticelli's model?
Botticelli's model for Venus was the most beautiful woman in Florence . She was admired by everybody and loved by the two most powerful brothers of her time, Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici, as Marylin Monroe centuries later
What should I know about the birth of Venus?
The Birth Of Venus. Completed in 1486, Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus has become one of the most heralded works of the Renaissance and a lasting symbol of feminine grace and beauty. Yet there's much more to this radiant work than you might imagine.
What is the birth of Venus modeled after?
11. It may have been meant to replace a lost masterpiece. Some sources believe The Birth of Venus was modeled after the long lost Venus Anadyomene, a painting by ancient Greek artist Apelles that was once described by Roman author Pliny the Elder and known only through his written account. 12.
How long was the birth of Venus hidden?
This locale and its daring depiction contributed to The Birth of Venus being hidden from public viewing for roughly 50 years. 6. The Birth of Venus has a companion piece.
How big is Venus' birth?
The Birth of Venus measures in at roughly 6 feet by 9 feet. It's been called the "first large-scale canvas created in Renaissance Florence.". 8. The Birth of Venus survived the Bonfire of the Vanities.
What does the shell on Venus' palm represent?
And no, we don't mean what lies beneath Venus's carefully placed palm. The shell she stands on may be meant to represent female genitalia, which creates a birthing scene that reflects Venus's oceanic origins while connecting symbolically to human birth.
When was the first Venus statue made?
The first of these works is believed to date back to the second or third century BCE.
Who was Botticelli's inspiration?
He wanted to lie eternally by its earthly inspiration, Simonetta Cattaneo de VespuccI. Called the most beautiful woman in Florence as well as the most beautiful woman of the Renaissance, Simonetta was the muse who inspired several of Botticelli’s works, including The Birth of Venus and La Primavera.
When was the birth of Venus?
A Look at Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” in Pop Culture. ’s The Birth of Venus (ca. 1486) is everywhere. The early. painter’s rendition of the goddess of love has been used to sell Reebok sneakers, suitcases, and Adobe Illustrator software; inspired photoshoots and music videos featuring the likes of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga;
Where did Venus come from?
The Birth of Venus depicts a moment from the Greek myth in which Kronos severs Uranus’s genitals and throws them into the sea; Venus, or Aphrodite, emerges fully formed from the foam of a cresting wave. Carried by a shell, the goddess drifts to shore in Cyprus.
What is the meaning of Venus in Botticelli's painting?
Yet as au naturel as she may be, Botticelli’s Venus became an idealized standard of beauty —an image of perfection that non-goddesses needed blowouts and makeup to rival.
What is the goddess of love used for?
painter’s rendition of the goddess of love has been used to sell Reebok sneakers, suitcases, and Adobe Illustrator software; inspired photoshoots and music videos featuring the likes of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga; and versions of it graced the cover of The New Yorker twice.
When did Botticelli die?
After his death in 1510 , Botticelli’s work quickly faded from view. It wasn’t until the 19th century that a subtle reassessment of the artist began to take root. Even Victorian art critic John Ruskin, who originally derided a Botticelli painting of the. Madonna and Child.
Was Venus a foregone conclusion?
But the ubiquity of The Birth of Venus was not a foregone conclusion. In fact, for several centuries, it was more or less unimaginable.
Who was the Pope who decorated the Sistine Chapel?
By 1481, Pope Sixtus IV was commissioning Botticelli to decorate Rome’s recently completed Sistine Chapel. But in the final years of his life, Botticelli’s work became overtly religious and heavily stylized, losing its earlier idealized naturalism.
