Botticelli
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli, was born in Florence in 1445. His work is closely associated with the Italian Renaissance, specifically with the period known as the Quattrocento. Botticelli is celebrated for his mastery in fresco painting and religious works, as well as for his mythological representations, with "The Birth of Venus" and "La Primavera" being his most iconic works.
The Renaissance, an artistic movement that deeply influenced him, promoted a return to the classical values of Greco-Roman antiquity, emphasizing the importance of proportion, perspective, and humanism. Botticelli, under the influence of his mentor Filippo Lippi, developed a style characterized by the elegance of lines and the idealized beauty of human figures.
Botticelli's works not only reflected his time but also influenced future artistic movements, such as Mannerism, which emphasized the deliberate distortion of the human figure to express complex emotions. Among contemporary artists influenced by him are Filippino Lippi, the son of his mentor, and Piero di Cosimo, with whom he shared a similar approach to the representation of mythology and religion.
Throughout his career, Botticelli worked for prominent patrons, including the Medici, Florence's most powerful family. His relationship with this family not only secured him numerous important commissions but also allowed him to be in contact with other great artists and thinkers of the time.
Although Botticelli fell into relative obscurity after his death in 1510, his work was rediscovered and celebrated by the Pre-Raphaelites in the 19th century, who admired his attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of the Renaissance ideal. This rediscovery cemented his place as one of the undisputed masters of the Renaissance.
Botticelli's influence extended beyond Renaissance painting, inspiring modern artists such as Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, who found in his work a source of inspiration to explore new forms of expression.
