Italian and Northern Renaissance

"The Birth of Venus" Sandro Botticelli - Florence, Italy C. 1486                         

Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus 1484-86 

Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus was one of his many paintings done for the Medici Family in Italy sometime between 1484 and1486. Botticelli depicts the story of the birth of Venus as told by Homer, the Ancient Greek poet on tempera on canvas medium. The attention to detail only brings more life to this painting’s storytelling, using dark lines around Venus’ body to contrast her almost alabaster skin, and beautiful definition in the hair and cloth. Even the waves create a sense of two dimensions. It all creates a whimsical illustration of the famed birth of Venus, and as most old art is, its content and medium tell a story themselves. Canvas was not commonly used for most formal paintings at this time. While canvas was gaining popularity, wood was still the most common medium for painting and especially for ones that would have been kept in a more formal setting. This and the nudity depicted hint at this piece being one that a member of the Medici family would have had at a country house or in a private area rather than one of their more formal opulent dwellings. 

Birth of Venus connection to Humanism

Humanism was a philosophical belief developed during the Renaissance. Humanism can be defined as believing in the worth and dignity of the individual. Birth of Venus illustrates strong humanistic ideas. In the 15th century before Botticelli’s nude Venus, nude paintings that were not of Adam and Eve were very unfamiliar and even seen as rude. Birth of Venus is a lot of things but rude is not one of them. This is a celebration of physical and spiritual beauty and love. Venus is the Goddess of Love. This stunning and pure image is completely mythological in its subject matter and fully represented cultural humanistic beauty. Venus rises from the sea in a shell, representing love- a newborn Goddess. Venus is a symbol of individual and intellectual love. Birth of Venus humanistic values emphasize on the beauty of the human body, the goodness of humans, and an origin for human desire.   


                                                                       Work Cited

“A Celebration of Beauty and Love: Botticelli's Birth of Venus (Video).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/renaissance-art-europe-ap/v/botticelli-birth-of-venus.

Italian Renaissance Art - Humanism, www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/italian-renaissance/italian-renaissance-art-humanism.html.

Lazzeri, Davide. “Concealed Lung Anatomy in Botticelli's Masterpieces the Primavera and the Birth of Venus.” Acta Bio-Medica : Atenei Parmensis, Mattioli 1885, 16 Jan. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6166164/.

“Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance . Renaissance . Botticelli.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/empires/medici/renaissance/botticelli.html.

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