The term Renaissance is applied to the period in the history of Western Europe in the early 1300s the extended through the late 1500s. “Renaissance” is a French word meaning “rebirth” (Britannica 1). This term describes the radical and comprehensive changes that took place in European culture, bring about the demise of the Middle Ages and embodying for the first time the values of the modern world. The word “renaissance” originally referred to the revival of the values and artistic styles of classical antiquity during that period, especially in Italy (Beckett, 1994, 36). The Renaissance is seen as building on, rather than breaking with, its medieval heritage (Canto, 1994, 13). Th

In the painting, there are many events going on. The upper left area of the picture depicts the west wind. The wind god, Zephyr, and his nymph, Chloris, have their bodies intertwined, as they appear to fly through the air (Schutz, 1992, 40). Zephyr is puffing forcefully, while his love, Chloris, gently sighs the warm breathe that drifts Venus to shore. All around them roses are falling, each with a golden heart in the center of the flower. In the upper right area of a flowering orange grove, corresponding to the sacred garden of the Hesperides in Greek mythology (Schutz, 1992, 42). “Each small white Blossom on the trees is tipped with gold. Gold is noticeably used throughtout the painting. It seems to play sort of a role as if it were a symbol of Venus’ divine beauty” (Beckett, 1994, 37). The nymph on the right, Flora, is one of the Greek goddesses of the seasons. These three goddesses were attendants to Venus (Cole, 1994, 28). Both the decorative dress of Flora as well as the robe she is holding out for Venus possess spring flowers and bright, lively colors. Spring is the season of new life and these garments add to the picture a sense of harmony. “The center of the picture illustrates Venus standing on a giant shell, accentuated with gold. Venus is positioned as if she were about to step off the shell onto the shore of the new world” (Schutz, 1992,37). The shadows on her body seem to present her with a golden glow. This is because the shadows are accented with a hint of gold. In the gold background of the painting, Botticelli used a very unique technique to portray the waves of the sea. If looked at closely, one will notice that the waves are quite flat and appear as if they were fish scales, but this technique of impressionism, “sketchy recordings of immediate visual sensations with flecks of color” (Stokstad, 1999, 27), combined with the realism in the figures brings the painting together (Beckett, 1994, 36).

“In the 19th century, Jules Michelet and Jakob Burckhardt popularized the idea of the Renaissance as ‘a distinct historical period heralding the modern age, characterized by the rise of the individual, scientific inquiry and geographical exploration, and the growth of secular value’”(Cole, 1994, 13). Today the concept of the Renaissance is firmly secured as a cultural and intellectual movement. Most scholars would agree that there is a distinctive Renaissance style in music, literature, and the arts. The Renaissance period is known for its confident and cohesive characteristics th

Some topics in this essay:
Venus Cole, Birth Venus, World Art, Jakob Burckhardt, Ages Art, , Hesperides Greek, Sculptors Architects, Western Europe, Italy” Schutz, art 1970, canto 1994, beckett 1994, schutz 1992, turner 1996, world art, birth venus, renaissance period, 1994 36 renaissance, 1994 37, 36 renaissance, beckett 1994 37, art 1970 442-3, beckett 1994 36,