Vase Botticelli “The Birth of Venus”

The Birth of Venus (circa 1486)

The two-dimensional character of this masterpiece is reminiscent of Greek painting. The subject also refers to Venus Anadyomene (Venus Rising from the Sea), a lost painting by the famous Greek painter Apelles. According to Pliny, Alexander the Great offered his mistress as a model. When Apelles fell in love with her, Alexander gave her up to him.

The story goes that Botticelli was in love all his life with Simonetta, the wife of the nobleman Marco Vespucci. She is said to be the model for Venus here. She died ten years before Botticelli, who is buried at her feet in the church of Ognissanti at his request.

Height: 23cm