The Transmogrification of Venus to Mary in the Works of Sandro Botticelli

Also, referred to as The Allegory of Spring, it is filled with allegorical meanings that can be very abstruse. However, the most commonly accepted interpretation is that Zephyrus, the west wind, abducts Chloris, who transforms into Flora, the Spring Goddess. The relationship between the two figures on the right is heavily debated; however, many speculate that the two female figures are the same person. The middle figure is Venus, who is said to represent the humanities, and directly above her is Cupid. On the left of the painting, Mercury is pushing away the winter clouds. To the right of Mercury are the Three Graces, who appear to be dancing represent, the virtues of Chastity, Beauty, and Love. The overall ideas behind this painting are the coming of spring, love, beauty, and

In the painting we see Venus and Mars resting on the grass both facing each other, surrounded by 4 infant satyrs. The scene is set on a meadow or a forest glade surrounded by myrtle trees, sacred to Venus and a symbol of love and faithfulness in marriage (Hall, 1974). Venus and Mars have engaged in a love affair and now they’re resting on the grassy field.

The two works of art that I have chosen is the painting The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli and the poem Stanze per la Giostra by Angelo Poliziano. The Birth of Venus was created between 1484 and 1486 by Sandro Botticelli. It was created in the early Renaissance period and is currently located in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Stanze per la Giostra was written between 1475 and 1478 by the Renaissance poet Angelo Poliziano. Its current location is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, although it is currently not on display. The Birth of Venus and Stanze per la Giostra share many similarities as Stanze per la Giostra was Botticelli’s inspiration for creating The Birth of Venus. In The Birth of Venus, Botticelli has transformed Poliziano’s words into a beautiful work of art. These works of art share the theme of beauty. While Angelo Poliziano describes the beauty of the goddess Venus in his prose, Botticelli has captured her beauty with his delicate brush strokes. I will be comparing the theme of beauty between The Birth of Venus and Stanze per la Giostra as well as connecting it to contemporary standards of beauty.

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

From my trip to the art museum the piece which stood out the most to me throughout the entire experience was David Ghirlandaio’s Altarpiece showing the Virgin and Child, with Saints Apollonia and Sebastian. The work of art specifically depicts an example of a sacra conversazione such as the ones we have looked at in class. This piece was made specifically in the 1490’s or the Early Renaissance time period and directly came from Florence, Italy where it was commissioned by the church as an altarpiece. Ghirlandaio specifically used tempera and gold on panel for this painting which he made in his family enterprise. Overall, the painting is roughly five and a half feet in length and height and is an excellent example of the type of works one would expect to see out of the Early Renaissance time frame.

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.

Lorenzo and his humanist circle had a great influence on artist in patronized including Botticelli.

I have chosen a famous oil on canvas painting: Venus and Cupid by Lorenzo Lotto made around the fifteenth and sixteenth century during the Italian Renaissance period. Overall, this piece is extremely intriguing to me, I cannot imagine how the artist created it with such detail and precision. Overall, this painting has this happy and positive mood, but it is also makes me curious as to what this painting is about. It also gives me this feeling to smile for Cupid and Venus in the painting, rather than with them, as there faces are conveyed as being happy together. Its colors similarly, just like the overall painting, has this beautiful bright and cheery color that seem to suit Venus and Cupid well.

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.

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?

To the right of the painting is Nymph, also known as "The Hours", Greek goddesses of the seasons. She has on a very elegant dress and holds a robe out for Venus which is decorated with red and white daises, as well as yellow flowers of some sort, and blue cornflowers. These are all flowers of spring time which is appropriate for the theme of birth. The Nymph also wears garland which is also decorated with roses. The Nymph seems to be welcoming not only Venus, but the season of spring as well. This open arms welcome is very comforting to view.

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

The picture symbolizes the aftermath of incestuous actions. Venus is evidently present at the center of the painting, recognizable by the golden apple in her left hand from the Greek myth The Judgement of Paris. A robust adolescent male figure with wings can be seen entwined with her. It is her son, Cupid. The undeniable sexuality of their embrace has long been debated over as scandalous behavior. Rather than channeling the act of incest in itself, Bronzino exploits these two as symbols for the personification of male and female sexuality. Whichever case it may be, the erotic narrative of the painting becomes instantly clear. Venus, determined to get Cupid’s arrow submits to dire endeavors when Cupid refuses and tries to distract him by seducing him while she takes the arrow from him. Venus and Cupid are painted