Creator story
Surprising fact
Under the preacher Savonarola's influence, Botticelli is said to have thrown some of his own pagan paintings onto the Bonfire of the Vanities.
Source: Wikipedia / WikimediaEarly Renaissance
Sandro Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445–1510) was the poet of the early Florentine Renaissance, master of flowing line and wistful grace. His mythological masterpieces The Birth of Venus and Primavera remain the dreamlike emblems of the age.
Forgotten for centuries, Botticelli was revived by the Pre-Raphaelites and is now among the most beloved painters of the Renaissance.
- Painted The Birth of Venus — the first large-scale nude goddess since antiquity.
- Worked for the powerful Medici family in the heart of Renaissance Florence.
- Late in life fell under Savonarola's spell, turning to dark religious themes and near-poverty.
Key works
Two works that open the world of Sandro Botticelli
These works make it easiest to see how the artist changed form, content, and the very way art could exist in culture.
c. 1484-1486
The Birth of Venus
Botticelli painted The Birth of Venus for the Medici milieu in Florence, joining classical myth, humanist poetry, and an unusually weightless figure in motion. The picture became a lasting emblem not only of beauty, but of the Renaissance ambition to reconcile nature, the body, and ideal harmony.
1480
Primavera
Primavera reads as one of the anchor works of renaissance, where Sandro Botticelli's visual voice becomes unmistakable.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people most often search about this artist.
When did Sandro Botticelli live?
Sandro Botticelli was born around 1445 in Florence and died in 1510. He was the poet of the early Florentine Renaissance and worked for the Medici family.
What is Botticelli's most famous painting?
His best-known works are The Birth of Venus and Primavera, mythological scenes that became emblems of the Renaissance.
Why is Botticelli's style so recognisable?
His flowing, almost musical line and the wistful grace of his figures give his work a softness unlike any other Renaissance master.
What happened to Botticelli late in life?
Under the preacher Savonarola's influence, he is said to have burned some of his own 'pagan' paintings on the Bonfire of the Vanities, and died in near poverty.