Botticelli

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Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Amedeo Filipepi) (1445-1510), - the famous Italian painter of early Renaissance. Botticelli, Sandro was nicknamed, was born in Florence in the family tanner skin. Educated elder brother Antonio, a goldsmith, known as Botticelli (a barrel), which is the nickname transferred to Sandro.

From 1465 to 1467 Botticelli works apprentice in the workshop of Fra Filippo Lippi. His early works are similar to the descriptions of teachers, whose work is filled with gentle, lyrical images. For example, Madonna (the end of 1460-x), written by Sandro for Orphanage in Florence, virtually repeats the same work Lippi. After his departure from Florence, Botticelli, Lippi goes to the studio Verrokko (1467-1468).

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In 1470 Botticelli opens his own workshop, which as the rising popularity of the artist expanded, it receives pupils in 1472 he joined the Guild of St.. Luke. On instructions shop Florentine merchants for the trade court, he wrote Strength (1470, Florence, Uffizi Gallery), the allegorical figure of one of the virtues, symbolizes the moral force of the soul. Botticelli depicts her as a young woman on the throne with a mace in his hands.

In his works of Botticelli often drawn to religious painting, for example, Madonna of the Eucharist (1472, Boston, Gardner Museum). According to the symbolism of this work, grapes and ears of wheat, which holds the angel pointed to the mystery of the Eucharist, and the ear, which takes a lady, - sad acceptance of future suffering of Christ. Two small paintings Return of Judith from the camp of Holofernes, and finding the body of Holofernes (both 1472-1473, Florence, Uffizi Gallery), written by him on subjects from the Old Testament.

In 1474 Botticelli was going to Pisa for the inspection of the frescoes of the cemetery Kamposanto, wrote fresco Assumption of the Madonna in the cathedral of Pisa, which was not completed (died in 1583). In the same year he created the St. Sebastian (1474, Berlin State Museums) to decorate the pilasters of the central nave of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Florence. The suffering of the saint are more spiritual than physical in nature. It Botticelli gives anatomically accurate interpretation of the naked body.

The second half of the 70's and 80's - the period of creative flowering of the artist. Wrote his famous Spring (circa 1478), The Birth of Venus (1484-1486), Pallas and the Centaur (1482), Venus and Mars (c. 1485), the Sistine Chapel frescoes (1481-1482) and the frescoes villas Lemmy and Giovanni degli Albizzi.

In 1475 for the knight's tournament makes Botticelli painting banners for Giuliano de 'Medici with the image of Pallas Athene. In the painting Adoration of the Magi (1475-1478, Florence, Uffizi Gallery) Botticelli in the guise of the Magi and their retinue of Representatives represents the Medici family, and shows itself in the foreground.

Botticelli serves a portrait not only in the Adoration of the Magi. Gorgeous profile portrait of Giuliano de 'Medici (c. 1478, Bergamo, gallery Carrara) and Portrait of a Young Woman (1475, Florence, Pitti Gallery).

Spring (Primavera) (c. 1478, Florence, Uffizi Gallery) was painted by Botticelli for a cousin of Lorenzo the Magnificent in the plot, inspired by the poetry of Ovid and the Medici court poet Angelo Poliziano. The fragile, slender Spring flowers woven into her dress, keeping the folds of clothing, scattered delicate flowers. In the center of the picture, his head, placed dreamy Venus, patroness of love, the right of which joined in the dance of the Three Graces and Mercury stands. The left of the Spring Flora, fleeing from Zephyr. Quaint rhythm flowing lines of the track together. Postures, movements are fascinating character: fluid gestures, soft bowed his head, the exquisite lines of folds garments. Botticelli creates a paradise on earth, removing pictures from the category of space, the trees clear sky, but no depth, like a meadow on a beautiful tapestry. The image of Venus by Botticelli sought to combine the features of pagan, corporeal, and at the same time, Christian, spiritual beauty.

In 1478 Botticelli wrote a fresco depicting the conspirators were executed for the palace of the Bargello, which was destroyed in 1494, in 1480, creates a monumental fresco of St. Augustine to the Church of All Saints in Florence in 1481 - a fresco of the Annunciation (Florence, Uffizi Gallery) for the porch of the monastery of San Martino Dalla Rock.

In 1481-1482 Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484), invited to the Vatican, Botticelli, D. Ghirlandaio (1449-1494), P. Perugino (c. 1450-1524), B. Penturikkio (1454-1513), K. Rosselli ( 1439-1507) and other artists for painting the Sistine Chapel. They should have six murals on the themes of the Old and New Testaments. To the left of the altar wall Botticelli depicts scenes from the Old Testament Moses Trial and Punishment of Korea, Dathan and Abiram, the right of the altar wall placed scenes from the life of Christ Temptation of Christ.

Pallas and the Centaur (1482, Florence, Uffizi Gallery), painted by Botticelli, as Spring, for the Medici's cousin, was at the Villa Castello, together with the spring and the birth of Venus. There are several interpretations of this work: the victory of Lorenzo the Magnificent of Naples, the victory over the Medici and the Pazzi, etc. Decorated with olive branches, Pallas in a white dress holds a halberd. Beside her centaur, whose image was inspired by ancient reliefs.

Painting, Venus and Mars (c. 1485, London, National Gallery) has a horizontal elongated proportions, hence the assumption that the painting was painted by Botticelli for the decoration of the side wall of wedding chest, Cassone. In accordance with the humanistic worldview, from the union of Venus and Mars (love and struggle) born Harmony. Vegetative state, Venus and plunged into a deep sleep Mars symbolizes the idea of love's triumph, the triumph of peace over war.

In 1485 Botticelli creates the Madonna and Child between John the Baptist and John the Theologian (Berlin State Museum), painted for the altar in the chapel of the Church of St.. Spirit of Florence, and later the Madonna with the Pomegranate (1487, Florence, Uffizi Gallery) for the hall audiences in the palace Vecchio, Annunciation (1489-1490, Florence, Uffizi Gallery) and the Glorification of Madonna (Madonna del Magnificat) (1483-1485, Florence, gallery Uffizi).

In 1490-s the artist growing pessimism. Death of Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492), the capture of Florence by French troops and the apocalyptic views of Savonarola (1452-1498), who sympathized with Botticelli - all this has made a revolution in his mind. Tosca, hopelessness read in the picture Abandoned (c. 1495, Rome, Pallavicini collection), based on the biblical story. It shows a lonely young woman in great grief and confusion of feelings. Dramatic evident in other paintings of Botticelli this period: Lamentation (1495-1500, Munich, Alte Pinakothek), Slander (c. 1495, Florence, Uffizi Gallery), which was the subject of a narrative of the Roman writer 2. BC

In 1491 Botticelli involved in the commission for consideration of competitive projects, design of the facade of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. In 1496 he wrote to St. Francis for the bedroom of the monastery of Santa Maria di Monticelli. In 1492-1500, he creates a series of illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy, where every song is dedicated to one figure. Drawings on large sheets of parchment filled with a thin linear fashion (Berlin, engravings office of the state museums, Rome, Vatican Library).

In 1501, finalizing Christmas (London, National Gallery) - the only piece, dated and signed by Botticelli. The painting combines scenes of "Christmas" and "Adoration of the Magi". In 1504 included in the commission of artists, which was tasked to select a location for the statue of Michelangelo's David.

Botticelli died May 17, 1510. He is buried in the cemetery of All Saints Church in Florence.