One of Sandro Botticelli’s greatest works is The Birth of Venus. It is a remarkable painting that clearly defines the Renaissance movement. Sandro Botticelli was one of the greatest Renaissance artists in Florence, Italy. Born in 1445 and died in 1510, his work, Birth of Venus, is the epitome of the spirit of the Renaissance. This paper discusses how Botticelli’s masterpiece has the values and characteristics of Renaissance art.

The Birth of Venus was inspired by Homer, an ancient poet. Based on the traditional myths, on her way to Cythera after birth, Venus rode a seashell. In the painting, she is depicted in the center riding a large seashell and born out of form. On her left side is Zephyrus blowing wind from his mouth to guide her as he carries nymph Chloris. A figure identified as the goddess of spring (Pomona) is waiting for her onshore with a mantle billowing in the wind blown by Zephyrus. (Italian Renaissance, 2012)

Botticelli painted her hair with great detail, reflecting how women wore their hair in the fifteenth century. Venus has an idealized face without blemishes, carefully shaded to show the reflection of light on its surface. She is painted nude, though she appears to be trying to cover her nudity modestly. Her skin is milky in color, and she seems to have flesh made out of marble to underscore a body with a sculpturesque nature. (History.com Editors, 2019)

This scene is inspired by Renaissance humanism. It seems that the composition is not only inspired by a pagan sculpture but also by a pagan narrative. The subject matter not only revolves around awareness of nature but also an individualistic view of man and his environment. The figures are portrayed in a realistic human form, and the environment (water, trees, and sky) is also realistic. Botticelli took his time to study human figures to paint them with such realism. (Arts and Culture, 2018)

The Birth of Venus gives the viewer a glimpse at the imaginary world of myths. It shows how the world of myths is composed of humanistic entities. Venus’s arrival on the shore symbolizes the rebirth of hope as she brings love (Italian Renaissance, 2012); similarly, this painting epitomizes the Renaissance period, a period of rebirth in classical learning. In conclusion, this paper has discussed Botticelli’s masterpiece Birth of Venus as having values and characteristics of Renaissance art. It has been found that it is more inclined towards Renaissance humanism as it has an individualistic view of man and his environment.

References

Arts and Culture. (2018, April 17). Art Movements . Retrieved from Arts and Culture: https://artsandculture.google.com/

History.com Editors. (2019). Renaissance Art. Retrieved from History.com : https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/renaissance-art

Italian Renaissanc. (2012, 20 August ). Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Retrieved from Italian Renaissanc: http://www.italianrenaissance.org/botticelli-birth-of-venus/