Sandro Botticelli.
I chose to write about Sandro Botticelli. The reason that I chose Botticelli is that I love the painting, The Birth of Venus. I was drawn to the beautiful soft colors and the enchanted quality of the piece. The people in the painting seem like they are floating or gently moving in the air. Venus is the central figure. She is being blown to shore on a scallop shell. Venus's face is very beautiful, her hair is very long and flowing in the breeze. Venus appears to be modest by the pose Botticelli has painted her in and I see a haunting sadness on her face. She appears shy, modest and perhaps unsure of her fate. .
The male wind god and the female breeze that appear to be gently blowing her to shore, are graceful and beautiful. They seem to be blowing flowers from their breath, The woman on the right of the painting appears to be bringing Venus a beautiful flowered cloak to cover up with. The textbook suggests that this figure may be a personification of spring. In a web site by Nicklaus Pioch he suggests that Venus needs to be covered because we are "too weak, or maybe too polluted" to bear her beauty. I read another description of Botticelli's work that deemed it "sheer poetry." I totally agree. Botticelli's work evokes a mystical, enchanted, poetic quality.
Botticelli's Birth of Venus initially caught my attention. As I researched I came to like his work even more. Botticelli's Primavera is perhaps the most beautiful painting I have ever seen. In the painting the hand maidens of Venus are very feminine and delicately beautiful. Their sheer robes flow gracefully around their bodies. Venus again appears in a dreamy, far away state. She appears to be far away from her surroundings in her mind. The cupid above her is delightful. I love his chubby legs and his rounded baby-like belly. Flora, the goddess of flowers is earthy and beautiful.
