<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/the-birth-of-venus-14851.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3382" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: default; border-width: 0px;" alt="the-birth-of-venus-1485(1)" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/the-birth-of-venus-14851-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mmmnoodles.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/botticelli-birth-venus.jpg">http://mmmnoodles.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/botticelli-birth-venus.jpg</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) was an Italian painter of the early Renaissance and was known for assisting with fresco painting, and what he’s best known for, the Birth of Venus that he painted for ruler and master poet Lorenzo de’ Medici. Also according to web source, The Biography Channel, “Botticelli was also himself a master and contributed to the decoration the Sistine Chapel.” But his most famous is the Birth of Venus (1483), the first large-scale tempera on canvas there was in the early Renaissance. Botticelli used naturalism and realism and his own techniques making his work more luxurious and loud. The Birth of Venus is a rare masterpiece that has remained classic and is one of the most known works of perfection in the world. Botticelli was also known for the Florentine School and the Primavera, other works of art he’s made his mark in the world with. Botticelli’s perfect linear style and his strange techniques are worthy of reserving his timeless work, and due to Botticelli’s exquisite and individual style during “The Golden Age”, the Birth of Venus should be protected and admired for our future generations (web. total history).<!--more--></p>
<p dir="ltr">This classic work from the early Renaissance time period in Florence, Italy was painted for Lorenzo de’ Medici. This tempera on canvas depicts the goddess Venus’s arrival from the shell to the shore, displaying her actual “birth”. Her birth is understood by her beautiful naked body emerging to the shore waiting to be clothed. Botticelli enhances the goddess through her soft bodily features such as her elongated neck and long torso. Venus is depicted as this graceful virgin being born, symbolizing love and beauty. As she arrives to the shore, a man and woman are clasped to each other with bright, colorful flower petals swaying around giving it a sense of them helping Venus arrive from the sea to the shore. To the right of the painting is a motherly woman awaiting to celebrate Venus’s arrival with a piece of clothing in her hands to clothe Venus as she arrives. Botticelli made the draping on the woman’s clothing to the right look very natural and realistic and in the background, and the colors of the forest and sea he made very bright and vibrant.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Web source, Artble, clarifies, “the commissioner provided the original source of<a href="http://www.artble.com/artists/jean-honore_fragonard/paintings/inspiration"> inspiration</a> and that either he, or one of his learned friends, explained to the artist what was the story, as recounted by the ancients regarding Venus rising from the sea. The story would have been seen as a symbol of mystery in which the divine message came into the world, and Botticelli has done his best to depict this myth in a worthy manner.” There were many different theories on what the true meaning is behind this stunning piece of art. As defined in a web source, people who studied this work of art described it as “Neoplatonic”, a meaning far from the usual theme of the “Christian Catholic Church” (web. source total history). Viewers were drawn to this mystery meaning behind the painting and during this time of the Renaissance, poets and artists tried to capture the glory of the Renaissance. (web. artble)</p>
<p dir="ltr">During this time period of the Renaissance, most artists used the rich and the royals in their paintings and poetry. Lorenzo the Great was one of the first to begin this tradition of influencing this style in poetry, which lead to the painting, the Birth of Venus, by Botticelli. “For the men of the Renaissance, the mythology of the Greeks and Romans represented a superior form of truth and wisdom,” (Artble web source). Most famous paintings during the time of the Birth of Venus were inspired by the Kings and the royals of Rome, grasping the true richness of that time period. As web source Artble explains, Botticelli’s the Birth of Venus was the, “first large-scale canvas created in Renaissance, Florence.” The little things he did to his paintings were very unusual of this time period such as covering the painting with eggs white to preserve the paint so it doesn’t fade or discompose easily.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Birth of Venus was unusual in only a few ways such as the size of the canvas being overwhelmingly large-scale, and also the little touches that Botticelli adds to the painting to keep it clean and in good shape for people of today to notice its brilliant beauty. This work stands out by its size and its texture. Botticelli is known for his unique styles of painting and his ways to keep his paintings looking fresh and luxurious even as time passes. As stated in web source, Artble, this painting resembles a fresco in the way it depicts its freshness and brightness.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During the Renaissance, this painting was perceived to accomplish love and beauty. During this time period, painters were introducing mythology to their art and as it claims in web source Artble, “In the era that Birth of Venus was painted, minds were open to new ideas and religion no longer needed to be the main subject of artistic work” (Artble). This type of art (as displayed in the Birth of Venus) was very appealing to men. As portrayed in this work, Venus is pale with long hair, and her body is elongated; and most importantly she depicts a virgin. Venus was portrayed as every man’s dream woman back during the Renaissance. She is very melancholy in this painting which makes her more beautiful during her “birth”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Today, people appreciate the Birth of Venus as much as it did early Renaissance, of not more. Blogger Jonathan Jones declares, “Botticelli's work recreates that image of the sea and sky soothed by the soft power of Venus. The sea in his <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/painting">painting</a> is lulled and luxuriant. It is a marvellous artistic creation” (Jones). During the Renaissance, other artists and viewers appreciated Botticelli’s creativity with his bright colors and his originality of using mythological scenes in his artworks. There aren’t many differences in the opinions of people of today and back in the early Renaissance. If any differences should be considered, then it’s that more people today find the Birth of Venus more appealing and pay more attention to the detail in the art and also the mysterious story behind this exquisite piece of work.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This painting to me has always been one of my most favorites. The way Botticelli depicts Venus is subtle and sweet, but very elegant. I absolutely love the shape of her body in this painting; the way her torso and neck is prolonged making it the main focus on this piece of art. I also adore how Botticelli painted her hair very lengthy and a little messy, with her also covering her fragile area with her hair. Botticelli put a lot of focus on Venus’s body and also the drapery of the women to the right, waiting to clothe Venus; the clothing on her seems very bright and detailed with also the drape in her hands also depicting the same fashion. The details of all for figures, however, does not blend well with the background of the sea. The Birth of Venus was one of Botticelli’s first masterpieces using this type of mythology and scenery, he doesn’t use realism technique until later during the Renaissance. The forest in the background also isn’t too realistic, but the little details such as the flowers blooming, the drapery on the figure to the right, and the figure of Venus makes up for the abstract sea behind them. This art piece is a classic. Botticelli did his finest to express his originality in this perfected model, and did an excellent job of bringing bright light and illuminating colors to this amazing piece of art.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In comparison, the Birth of Venus is extremely similar to Primavera, another masterpiece done by Botticelli. Both paintings are very vibrant and bright. Botticelli uses an informal landscape in the Primavera as well as the Birth of Venus. The figures in both paintings are similar due to the very center of the Birth of Venus, Venus is the main focus in the painting; and it is the same as for the Primavera. The figure in the center of both paintings, the bodies are both elongated with a very calm subtle stance. The figures beyond the center (left and right) of both paintings have many similarities such as the drapery of the dresses in the Birth of Venus, and the sheer coverings over the women figures in the Primavera. Botticelli uses so much color, and contrasts the dark background with the bright clothing worn by the figures.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In contrast, the viewer of the Birth of Venus can see and understand every action of all the figures in the painting, and the painting is very direct. In the Primavera, there are many small scenes happening in the main large scene that the viewer doesn’t notice until taking a thorough look at the painting. Such as the evil figure to the right of the painting trying to snatch away one of the women. And also a baby cupid flying above in the very center to the top of the painting. There are many scenes focuses to the Primavera in contrast to one main focus in the Birth of Venus.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This work is a complete, perfected, vibrant masterpiece. This specific piece of art is taught today in many college art courses. There’s a certain originality and beauty to Sandro Botticelli’s artworks, that one cannot resist but to keep it for our future generations. Botticelli invented a beautiful trend of painting large-scale mythological paintings, for other future artists to follow in his footsteps. For generations, the Birth of Venus has been unique to viewers, if it hadn’t, today’s people wouldn’t be studying it. The mystery, beauty, and originality behind the story of this painting is more than enough rationalism  to allow this painting to stay alive for generations to come.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><strong>Works Cited</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Dempsey, Charles “The Birth of Venus”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Oxford University Press. 2007-2013.  Oxford Art Online</p>
<p dir="ltr">I found a lot of information about how art was being presented during this time period.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Jones, Jonathan. "Botticelli's Birth of Venus breathes new life into an ancient religion." Jonathan Jones on art blog (2012). Web. 28 Sept. 2013.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This shows how people pay attention to detail on the painting today.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Philip’s. “Botticelli, Sandro.” World Encyclopedia. 2004. ed. Print</p>
<p dir="ltr">This helped me focus on why the reason the Birth of Venus was painted and who it was painted for.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Sandro Botticelli." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Sep 22 2013, 09:20</p>
<p dir="ltr">This website helped me look at the details of this painting, and what makes the painting so different and unique.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">"The Early Renaissance in Italy." Arts and Humanities Through the Eras. Ed. Edward I.     Bleiberg, et al. Vol. 4: Renaissance Europe 1300-1600. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 363-376. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 12 Sept. 2013.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"> The Perception of Female Beauty In Art. N.p., 8 May 2011. Web. 23 Sept. 2013.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This is a blog that I looked up that talked about how people perceived Venus during the early Renaissance and what the true meaning behind the painting is.</p>