Sandro Botticelli And The Hidden Meaning Of The Birth Of Venus

Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpiece, Venus and Adonis, is not only a significant artwork of the baroque-period in Europe during the seventeenth century, but it also tells the mythological story that begins with love, and ends in tragedy. Displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this painting is admired for representing the unique baroque-style of this era, as well as Rubens’ particular use of the medium and how it reaches those who are viewing it. His attention to detail and crafty use of symbolism within the painting assist viewers in deciphering the story, along with the values of the period in which Rubens was living. In studying the composition of the work and noting the historical context from which it came, one can ultimately

On the left side of the painting, Venus is resting her arm on a red cushion, watching her lover sleep. She appears very composed and in control of her body; in contrast to Mars who seems lost in a different world and in a very relaxed pose. She is fully clothed, whereas Mars in naked and only partially covered by a small white cloth. Botticelli portrays Venus as a beautiful, young woman in contemporary clothing. Her dress consists of multiple layers of thin, white fabric which appears sheer in places e.g. her legs. The way in which the bodice draws attention to and accentuates her curves, emphasizes her physical and sexual desirability (Rubin, 2000). Her braids are arranged in a complex hairstyle and are clasped together

One artist from the time, who was very popular for his reclining nudes was Giorgione (1477-1510) who painting Venus Resting, which was thought to have been left unfinished and the landscape to have been painted by Titian. The venus was originally meant to be accompanied by a cupid which has been painted out due to damage done to the painting, the cupid would have acted as a mediator between the goddess and the spectator (Chicago and Lucie-Smith,

This paper will compare the themes found in the paintings "Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and an Angel" by Domenico di Bartolomeo Ubaldini (Puligo) and "Madonna Enthroned" by Giotto. Both paintings deal with fables from the Christian faith but were executed during different periods in art. The Giotto painting was created around 1310 and the Puglio painting was executed between 1518 – 1520. Here, these two paintings have similar themes both at the extreme beginnings and endings of the Italian Renaissance, and as such they serve to present an exceptional example of the developments in art that occurred within that time. This paper shall compare

Italy can be looked at as the home of the renaissance and consequently the immergence of great art. Artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Raphael are some of the greats and are looked at for standards. But what about the artists whose lives are mysteries, and their works that were influenced by the greats? These artists hold just as much importance in the history of art as do the artist’s whose names can be recalled off the top of an average person’s head. During the sixteenth century things began to change in the art world, and that change was the Baroque. This new style of art brought a revolution to how subject matter was painted, it brought upon “… a radical reconsideration of art and its purposes…” (249) and how artists of all ranks could learn to paint the up and coming style of Baroque.

In Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, the subject is Venus herself, the Roman equivalent to Aphrodite: goddess of love and beauty (Kleiner 461). Throughout the piece, Botticelli applies a variety of techniques and details that greatly

Nanette Salomon, a very well known feminist writer, wrote the article, “Judging Artemisia: A Baroque Woman in Modern Art History.” The article opens up with a discussion about the 2001-2 exhibition of Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi: Father and Daughter Painters in Baroque Italy. The author explains that three things are unusual here: the fact that two famous artists were presented at the same time, that they were related as father and daughter, and the fact that the woman was better known than the man. Her intent in this article is to look at the effects of this trope (figure of speech) in the past and in the present.

The work of art that I have chosen to write about, is the Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius (1500-10). This painting is part of a bigger collection that depicts scenes from the life of Saint Zenobius. It’s sister pieces are spread out in different parts of the world, such places as, London, Dresden and New York itself. The painter of this entire collection is Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) and he belongs to the Early part of the Renaissance. It is worth to note, that Botticelli was taught by Filippo Lippi. Fra Filippo Lippi was a prominent artist of his time and he painted his work with great color and as well with a narrative quality. Botticelli himself made a name for himself by his artistic style and to his contribution to painting the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel and even though his most notable work of art was the Birth of Venus that was created eighteen years prior to the Three Miracles, this piece of work takes a different approach than his other paintings. The painting itself resembles the Scenes from the life of Saint John the Baptist (1490/95) and it could be said that Botticelli was inspired by it.

For my essay, I chose to discuss Alexanders of Antioch’s, Aphrodite, or Venus De Milo. Although not the most elaborate sculpture, Venus De Milo tells a story in itself. It is believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love, beauty and pleasure and in some instances, honored as the Goddess of War. Its association with graceful beauty, as well as eroticism for the age, helps depict a multi-dimensional sense for the period and its common depictions.

The visual work I have chosen is the Bith of Venus and is one of the world’s most famous works of art. Painted by Sandro Botticelli between 1482 and 1485, it is the first example of painting on canvas. The written work I have chosen is the Stanze per la Giostra. It was written by Angelo Poliziano, written between 1475-8. Both works are examples from the Italian Renaissance era, during the Medici rule, and share the theme of beauty and humanism. The works I've selected share the same subject matter, Venus, and is the perfect example of beauty and humanism. She is the epitome of beauty and her birth from the sea is an example of her metamorphosis of humanism. For this paper, I will compare both works then discuss how the shared theme is seen in contemporary works. How does Venus and her beautiful metamorphosis fit into contemporary forms of beauty and humanism?

La Primavera is set in a grove, with fruit trees and many types of flowers blooming on the ground. The figure in the center is that of an elongated woman, her head tilted to the viewer’s left and her right hand held up as if she is indicating something on that side. Her gaze comes out of the painting, as if to entreat the viewer to step into the scene. Her form divides the space into two sides. The greenery around her creates a circular shape. Given the subject matter of Botticelli’s other paintings in this collection and the other figures represented, the woman is interpreted to be Venus. At the top of this circle, the figure of a blindfolded male toddler with wings has notched an arrow from the quiver on his back and points it to the left of the painting. His position over Venus and possession of the bow designates him to be Eros, the son of Venus. Following the point of the arrow and the right arm of Venus, there are three dancing women, draped in wispy white with their fingers interlaced. These figures are the Three Graces, identifiable by the way they connect with each other and their dance – in mythology, the Graces

     This paper will compare the themes found in the paintings “Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and an Angel” by Domenico di Bartolomeo Ubaldini (Puligo) and “Madonna Enthroned” by Giotto. Both paintings deal with fables from the Christian faith but were executed during different periods in art. The Giotto painting was created around 1310 and the Puglio painting was executed between 1518 – 1520. Here, these two paintings have similar themes both at the extreme beginnings and endings of the Italian Renaissance, and as such they serve to present an exceptional example of the developments in art that occurred within that time. This paper shall compare

Also known by the titles "Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time" and "A Triumph of Venus", this painting was on purpose designed as a complex, erotic allegory that includes an extent of iconographic symbols from the ancient world of mythology. It was a present from Cosimo de Medici to King Francis I of France. Being rich and vivid in symbolism relating to the constituting ideas of the High Renaissance, the painting gives Bronzino the opportunity to establish his maestro figure painting and portrait art. Through personification of qualities and varying contrast and brightness, Bronzino is able to justify that personal gains outweigh anything and everything that is moral.

Beginning with the Renaissance (1400-1600) we see a change in the subject matter being portrayed by artists of the time. We can attribute this change not only to the change in patrons, from the Christian church to wealthy bankers and politicians, but also to the growing body of scientific knowledge. “The Renaissance was

Leonardo Da vinci painted the “Mona Lisa” in 1503. The artist portrays a young woman, which acquires the concept of feminine youth and more essentially the concept of elegance. In relation to Agnolo firenzuola’s novel “On The Beauty Of Women” , the portrait attributes to major physical characteristics in which is considered to be genuine beauty by the modern man. Seeing the female portraiture of the italian renaissance, Firenzuola implies a specific interpretation by analyzing the modern woman. Through the famous paintings illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa specifically supports the arguments and claims made by the poet’s correspondence to the beauty of women. Along with Da Vinci’s sticking features, the artist paints Firenzuola’s ideal beauty in comparability to the appearance of definitive grace. With his analyzations being extremely aesthetic, Firenzuolo activates criticizing aspects of the proportions of the figure, the placement of the figure’s position and the importance of the half length portrait of the feminine nature in relation to the portraiture of Mona Lisa.