Sandro Botticelli

Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli, was born in 1445 in Florence, a city that was the beating heart of the Renaissance at the time. Botticelli, who grew up in a family of tanners, showed an early inclination towards art . He began his apprenticeship with Fra Filippo Lippi, one of the leading painters of the time, and quickly developed his own distinctive style, characterized by graceful lines and an almost ethereal beauty. Botticelli was a master of depicting movement and emotion, and his Works are often permeated by a deep spirituality.

By the 1470s, Botticelli had established himself as one of the leading painters in Florence. He worked for the influential Medici family and created some of his best-known works, which are still considered Renaissance masterpieces. Botticelli's art is known for its elegance and sophistication, and his ability to depict mythological and religious subjects with a unique blend of realism and idealism made him one of the most sought-after artists of his time. Despite his success during his lifetime, Botticelli was forgotten for several centuries after his death in 1510 before being rediscovered in the 19th century.

Interesting fact:

A lesser-known aspect of Botticelli's life is his connection with the notorious monk Girolamo Savonarola. In the 1490s, as Savonarola was gaining influence in Florence, Botticelli was influenced by his preaching. It is speculated that Botticelli burned some of his own works in the infamous "Fires of the Vanities" organized by Savonarola's followers to destroy secular art and luxury goods. This episode demonstrates the complex relationship between art and religion in the Renaissance and sheds light on the inner conflicts Botticelli may have experienced.

Important works of art & paintings by Sandro Botticelli:

1. The Birth of Venus (ca. 1484-1486)
2nd Primavera (ca. 1482)
3. Adoration of the Magi (ca. 1475-1476)
4. The Slander of Apelles (ca. 1494-1495)
5. Madonna del Magnificat (ca. 1481)
6. Pallas and the Centaur (ca. 1482)
7. The Mystical Birth (ca. 1500-1501)
8. Portrait of a Young Man (ca. 1483-1485)
9. The Return of Judith to Bethulia (ca. 1472)
10. The Annunciation (ca. 1489-1490)"