In the Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy), one of the most visited masterpieces of the Renaissance remains Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus (1445-1510). The painting by the unsurpassed master of the Italian Early Renaissance was painted between 1483 and 1485. For nearly 3 centuries it was not appreciated, mainly because of religious taboos, fascination with other painters, and the difficulty of perceiving symbolism. However, the impeccable aesthetics of its female images became a model for young artists of different generations to emulate.
History of Botticelli’s Venus
The stunning image of Venus at the brush of the great master is a certain benchmark of feminine beauty, replicated in modern art. Of course, every era had its own types and aesthetic standards, but most experts are inclined to believe that the young goddess in the painting “Birth of Venus” is unimaginably good.
If pagan goddesses existed in reality, perhaps they would resemble this captivating image. During the Renaissance, the image of the bather emerging from the water was popular. Not every sitter that artists of the time might have spied on the shore was deified by capturing on canvas.
There is no reliable information as to whether this was a collective image or a sitter with the same figure actually existed, but this face has a real medieval prototype. The detached, exalted gaze, without any attraction to earthly pleasures, underlines the unearthly origins of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love. The artist additionally painted her hair in gold.
Most likely, the embodiment of unearthly beauty, according to the artist himself and his contemporaries – this is the image from the painting “Birth of “Venus” by Botticelli. One can argue about the shape of the feet and breasts, the thickness and color of the hair, otherwise, the charm of this image is striking. The proportionality of the body, the imperturbability of the face and the general impression of the pose of “Lady Perfect” make an indelible impression. A similar image by the same artist, The Shy Venus, has been preserved.