Sandro Botticelli, born Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, was a prominent Italian painter of the Early Renaissance. His work is associated with the flourishing of Florence as a center of art, humanism, and culture.
Botticelli was born around 1445 in Florence, Italy. His nickname, "Botticelli," meaning "little barrel," was derived from his elder brother, who was called Botticello. Little is known about his early life, but he likely began his training as an apprentice to a goldsmith before becoming an assistant to the painter Fra Filippo Lippi, whose work had a significant influence on Botticelli's early style.
Botticelli's most famous works include:
Botticelli's style evolved from the detailed and realistic work of his predecessors into a more linear, expressive approach. His figures are elongated, with a gracefulness that reflects the ideals of the time. His use of color was innovative, employing bright, harmonious hues. Botticelli was also known for his intricate use of line, which gave his paintings a lyrical quality.
Much of Botticelli's work was commissioned by the Medici family, who were patrons of the arts in Florence. His work was also influenced by the ideas of Neoplatonism, a philosophy that sought to reconcile Christian theology with the teachings of Plato, which was popular among the intellectuals of the time. This is evident in the themes of his paintings, which often dealt with mythological or allegorical subjects.
Botticelli's popularity waned in the late 1490s, possibly due to the rise of Savonarola, a Dominican friar who preached against the moral corruption of society, leading to the burning of many artworks and books in the Bonfire of the Vanities. Botticelli, influenced by Savonarola's teachings, might have destroyed some of his own works. He died in 1510, and his grave was lost until rediscovered in the 19th century. His reputation was largely forgotten until the late 19th century when his work was rediscovered by the Pre-Raphaelites and Aesthetic Movement, leading to a revival of interest in his art.