Characteristics Of Primavera

The Complexity and Beauty of Renaissance Art

Sandro Botticelli 's Primavera is one of the most famous Renaissance paintings. Created in 1482 and sometimes called the Allegory of Spring, the Primavera, italian for spring, was commissioned by Medici family. At the time of the painting the Medici became a dominant banking family. Orange trees in the background are a representation of the Medici as their family crest contains oranges. The complexity and beauty incorporated into the work compel the viewer to enter Venus’s Garden. A halo of sky architecturally frames Venus centrally and draws our eyes straight to her face. The Greek goddess of love, sex, fertility and beauty directly invites the audience in by making eye contact. This is known

He uses pagan ideas in his piece, which may not have been appropriate at the time of this work. Linear perspective is shown in the positions of the figures and the receding tree line. Linear perspective is when an artist 's uses orthogonals, or parallel lines, that recede back to a vanishing point. Atmospheric perspective is used in the pieces of landscape in between the trees, which shows the land blurring into the horizon line of the sky to give a realistic appeal to the viewer. Botticelli incorporates many details, such as the embellishments of the drapery of the three Graces. He creates a visual invention in the way the hands of the Graces come together and interlock. The complexity of this piece is what allows the viewers to appreciate the artistic ability of

It is unclear what the meaning of the work is, but many scholars have come up with their own ideas on the work. Once of which is that it was designed to show beauty. That is, beauty in nature, in a woman, and in a man. Ovid’s Fasti, a poetic discussion of the Roman calendar, strongly influenced Botticelli 's creation of the left side of his painting. Specifically those covering the Spring months of April and May. It has been suggested by Edgar Wind that the threes figures could possibly be the transformation of Chlois into Flora. He suggests this because of the similar clothing of the four figures. In the middle instead of Venus, Perhaps this is Flora, the final transformation. Others have discussed the celebration of May Day in this painting since this festivity descended from the Florali. The Florali took place from April 28th to May 2nd which honored the goddess Flora. In Ovid’s description Venus is dedicated to the month of April, which is why she is present in a spring setting. In reference to Venus, Andrews states, “Although she could be drawing us in, one can also see her as turning away, fading into the background, as the seasons advance” (Andrews, 76-77). This relates to the months changing as Venus is represented in the month of April, but the upcoming month, May, is represented by