Born
Alessandro di Filipepi
in Florence, Botticelli
began studying painting
in the studio of Fra
Filippo Lippi. Like
Lippi, Botticelli was
accomplished at both
frescoes and panel
paintings. The artist's
paintings reflect a
thorough knowledge of
Classical works and were
revered for their
combination of
contemporary Florentine
style and Classical
prototypes.
Throughout his
lifetime, Botticelli was
held in high esteem and
enjoyed the patronage of
the powerful Medici
court, the ruling family
of Florence. The Medici
interests in Platonic
philosophy and Classical
themes provided an
opportunity for
Botticelli to explore
mythological subjects as
well as traditional
religious themes. The
artist's innovative
interpretations of both
religious and
mythological subjects
reflect a level of
sophistication that far
exceeded his peers.
One of Botticelli's
most innovative
contributions was
depicting his subjects,
whether religious or
mythological, in the
contemporary costume of
the Florentine court.
His famed Birth of
Venus, defined by the
artist's expressive,
lyrical line, set the
standard for Renaissance
beauty. While
overshadowed by Leonardo
and Michelangelo,
Botticelli is credited
with many of the
stylistic innovations
that presage the
startling developments
of the High Renaissance.
After the
Renaissance,
Botticelli's reputation
languished until his
work was rediscovered in
the late 19th century.
It has since enjoyed a
resurgence in popularity
and has claimed a
prominent place in
museums worldwide.
