preview

Sandro Botticelli Essay

Better Essays

Botticelli is one of the most famous artists during the Italian Renaissance. He was very well know for the portrayal of the female figure and his ability to incorporate femininity as a symbol of life itself and/or nature illustrated by the changes of seasons. Botticelli most famous figure was that of Venus, the goddess of love. She was incorporated into two of his most famous works, The Birth of Venus and Primavera. Most of Botticelli's women had that typical hourglass figure to them . During the time period in which these works were created, women with the physical characteristics of Venus were considered to be the ideal feminine figure. These women were considered to be ideal because during this era, flesh was a symbol of health, wealth, …show more content…

Botticelli adds the wind factor, which in turn makes Venus more attracting because it leaves to the mind the imagination of her becoming nude if she did not hold the hair in the position that he placed it. The slight coverage of the breasts and the genitals is what makes Venus to be a very sexy and attractive woman. Revealing just a slight bit of the private areas is very attracting. It leaves to the imagination the rest of the picture. Botticelli represents the beauty of his women in another of his famous works. In "Primavera," he depicts the birth of a new beginning. Back in that time period, spring meant new life. Flowers bloomed and people survived harsh winters. Botticelli is brilliant in the way he depicts this rebirth. The chronology of "Primavera" runs right to left, contrary to the pictorial sequence in the standard painting. He depicts the painting in this order because according to the Roman calendar, spring unfolded from right to left (Turner, 152). The painting begins with Chloris. Chloris is supposedly the reason for the appearance of Flora, the goddess of flowers. Chloris was raped by Zephyr, the man all the way to the right of the painting (Dempsey, 44). The flowers Rizzo 3 that come out of her mouth, onto Flora's dress (whom Chloris was transformed into after the rape), symbolize the birth of a new beginning. This is said to be the part where the new beginning comes about. The flowers from Flora then begin to

Get Access