Sandro Botticelli's Influence

Improved Essays
During the fifteenth century, Florence was filled with artistic, humanistic, technological, and scientific achievements, in the midst of a period known as the Renaissance. Founded on the rediscovery of the classical world, Renaissance culture focused on hero ideals and promoted the study of the liberal arts, largely centering on the individual’s intellectual potential. At this time, Florence was influenced largely by the powerful Medici family, who had political and financial influence over most of central Italy (Florence and Central Italy, 1400-1600 A.D.). Sandro Botticelli was born as Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi in 1445 in Florence, Italy. After finishing school, Botticelli studied under one of the most admired Florentine painters of the …show more content…
Additionally, Botticelli acquired many aspects of painting as well as stylistic types and compositions from Lippi including a certain fanciness in costuming, a linear sense of form, and a partiality to paler hues that were still visible even after Botticelli had developed his own strong color schemes (Lightbown). Botticelli’s work truly represents the spirit of the Renaissance because his paintings embody the new values of questioning authority, celebration of the individual, and focus on scholarship.
Botticelli’s paintings “Primavera” and the “Birth of Venus” demonstrate the Renaissance value of challenging authority by challenging the church as well as Christian values. Although pagan imagery such as Greek and Roman mythology grew more common during the Renaissance period, many priests and preachers did not approve. Among them was Girolamo Savonarola, an Italian friar and preacher who did not approve of paintings containing pagan and nude imagery, began to have an impact on the people of Florence (Bowen). The first example of Botticelli’s work that questioned authority is his painting “Primavera”, one of the best-known works of art that was produced during the Florentine Renaissance.

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Renaissance was a period of great advancement not only culturally but also in reference to technology and science. Individual parts of Europe had their own changes, however, the Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance are the two most recorded within Europe. Although they share this in common, they are in fact extremely different, these differences can be observed through artwork in each Renaissance. The Italian Renaissance was concerned with art that they produced to depict beauty and elegance, above all. The Italian Renaissance was also aware that it was in fact just that, a Renaissance.…

    • 1334 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The two paintings I chose to compare and contrast were Le Dejeuner sur l’herbe and The Birth of Venus. Both paintings were created in different time periods. Le Dejeuner sur l’herbe was created in 1862-1863 by Èdouard Manet. The Birth of Venus was created in 1484-1486 by Sandro Botticelli. When you look at both paintings there are many similarities you can point out just by looking at them.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the Renaissance period of the 14th to 17th century, art and architecture between Northern Europe and Italy were both similar and different in many ways. From the detailed work of everyday life of the North to the Neoplatonic allegories of Italian work, the Renaissance was a time of transition and strength. The most dominant similarity between Northern European and Italian Renaissance artwork lies behind the meaning of humanism. During the Renaissance, there was “rebirth of culture”; a shift towards people acknowledging human achievement. In religious pieces of art, Jesus was seen as less Godly and more human-like with emotion.…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Michelangelo was one of the leading figures of the Renaissance during the late 15th and the first half of the 16th century. He was primarily a sculptor, but he was very talented in paintings and poetry. His talents were so apparent, that he earned the attention and patronage of Lorenzo de Medici, the leader of the Florentine Republic. The background of Michelangelo’s early life would play a large role in his rise to becoming a famous Renaissance artist. A. Michelangelo a. Born to middle class family.…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Italy is often known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, a time of great achievement in all aspects of the Modern Age. Specifically the art during this time uniquely represented this era. In fact, Renaissance is majorly represented through its magnificent art. Architecture, sculpture and painting were the leading categories for all the Renaissance artists. The art during this time shared some similar qualities.…

    • 114 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Umberto Boccioni Khamia Melvin Art 111 Ria Whestphal November 23 2015 Umberto Boccioni During your lifetime there is always a chance for you to be inspired by someone. Someone who is true to their self , their peers and their work. Umberto Boccioni happens to be an all-time favorite and an all-time source for inspiration , motivation ,and encouragement. Umberto Boccioni was born in Reggio Calabria which happens to be the southern part of Italy , On October 19, 1882. He was born to the mother of Cecilia Forlani and the father of Raffaela Boccioni .…

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In the end of the 14th century, many Italian thinkers realized that they were living in a new age. The Middle Ages were over and there was a “rebirth”. In 15th century, the Renaissance began in Florence, Italy. Renaissance philosophers had a great appreciation for mankind and physical beauty, known as humanism. Humanism encouraged many to experiment and learn more about the world.…

    • 143 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Period Eye Analysis

    • 1118 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Michael Baxandall is a very important figure in the art historian world. He has written many books over many different subjects, but is most known for his work, Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy. Publish in 1972, this book place him in the art hisortain world. Baxandoll’s book is based on scoial history approach to dealing with works out art. Social History can be defined as, history that looks at the social, economic, and cultural institutions of a people.…

    • 1118 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Rece Pellersels Art History 261 An Analysis of Lilian Zirpolo’s Interpretation of Primavera It’s no question that Sandro Botticelli’s painting Primavera (Spring) has an emphasis on the femininity of women in the renaissance. In Lilian Zirpolo’s essay “Botticelli’s Primavera” she discusses the many different aspects that it served as a lesson to women in medieval society. In this essay I will discuss key points analyzing Zirpolo’s argument on the work’s femininity and function, comparing and contrasting Marilyn Stokstad’s arguments in reference to Zirpolo’s, and even my interpretation of the artwork and how it all comes back to relate to femininity.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Renaissance Dbq

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did the Renaissance Change Man Views of the World the Middle Ages began after the fall of the Roman Empire in 500 CE and lasted until around 1350 Ce. The Middle Ages were also known as the “Dark Ages” due to the depression occurring at that time. During the middle ages the people of the Renaissance were illiterate and majority of the people were serfs who worked for lords and their land. As time evolved peasant farmers became more efficient and educated. According to the background essay with this change they gained freedom and independence leading to the ability of being able to question the church’s methods (Background Essay).…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Italian Renaissance is known to be a time accredited to most European success and due cultural change beginning in Italy dated from the early 14th century to the late 16th century (Queller 127). Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian Renaissance polymath, once said “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen” (Goodreads Inc). A great example to explain the connection between Stanze per la Giostra and The Birth of Venus. The beauty of The Birth of Venus is known to be connected to events depicted in the epic poem created by Poliziano. Many believe that Botticelli got his inspiration for his painting from a portion of Polizianoś poem that speaks directly of the Temple of Venus.…

    • 1365 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Renaissance is a time period in which much of the European countries, especially Italy, changed drastically. It began after the Middle Ages and impacted Italy’s social, economic, and political customs. These changes were driven by a new idea in philosophy. Humanism was this new idea in which people began to primarily focus on individualism. This idea inspired many artists during the fifteen century and as a result much of the paintings and sculptures appeared more realistic and in proportion to real life humans.…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Botticelli does not only possess the ability to create various figures with distinct expressions and poses, but he is also able to give the illusion of space. This is seen as the ground appears to be tilted up, giving the spectator a sense that there is a firm ground placed below the feet of the figures. Nevertheless, despite painting the ground slightly tilted up, none of the figures cast shadow. This is done in order to emphasize the poetic nature of the painting while granting the mythological figures an otherworldly affect. Nevertheless, by establishing a firm landscape, Botticelli is able to create a foreground, composed of Mercury, the Three Graces, Chloris, Flora, and Zephyrus, a middle-ground, including Venus and a blinded Cupid placed…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The scene of Renaissance art is not exactly how many paint it today. While during the fifteenth century Renaissance a plethora of art as well as artists were created, the concept of ‘artistry’ was completely foreign. Today, when we see Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and Michelangelo’s statue of David, we identify both as art and comparably we recognize the beauty of the art forms that they are. However, during the Renaissance, Botticelli, a painter, and Michelangelo, a sculptor, would have been recognized as having two very distinct professions and comparison of the two would be nonexistent.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Renaissance Individualism

    • 1168 Words
    • 5 Pages

    space became broken down mathematically in design and painting to convey an illusion of reality. This then allowed the creation of new designs and mathematical input that manifested lifestyle with spiritual aspects. One such artist was Giovanni Bellini who introduced bright, rich, strong colours into his palette and landscapes that expressed the happiness, calmness, and prosperity that Italy carried throughout the Renaissance. These characteristics and designs of paintings afterward became a preferred Venetian cornerstone. alternative necessary figures within the Renaissance that conveyed the movement s concepts through their ingenious paintings and branch of knowledge ways were Pier Della Francesca and Leon Battista Alberti.…

    • 1168 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics