The Renaissance: The Birth of Venus
The Renaissance: The Birth of Venus
History:
The painting The Birth of Venus was created by Sandro Botticelli in Italy, 1486. This painting depicts Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, being born of the ocean spray and moved to Cyprus by the movement of the winds while riding on a shell. Of the pair on the left, the man is Zephyrus who is blowing the wind to move Venus, and the woman is Chloris, a nymph. The identity of the woman on the right is unknown, but is speculated to be the goddess of spring.
This painting is believed to have been commissioned by the Medici family, although this is not known for certain. The reason it is speculated to have been created for the Medici family is because of the Orange trees apparent in the background, as these are "considered an emblem of the Medici dynasty" (Daniela Parenti). However, "we do not know for sure which Medici it was painted for" because there is not much information on the topic (italianrenaissance.org, 2012).
Although paintings were typically done on wood during this time period, The Birth of Venus was made on a canvas. Canvas was typically cheaper and considered less formal, so paintings that were done on this medium were usually hung in non-official locations. This painting has many similar features as the Primavera, another work of Botticelli. One of these features was the fact that Venus was slightly off center and has a mild head tilt.
The fact that Venus was painted naked shows the concept of humanism. Her nakedness allows people to see her whole being and admire her beauty to a greater extent. Also, since this depicts Venus who is a Roman goddess, it shows how people were starting to transition away from Christianity and began to study different religions and beliefs. However, since the Medici family was often seen as corrupt, many people wanted religious reform. Because of this, Botticelli burned some of his earlier works to show his transformation back to religion.
Appearance:
This painting is an example of striking beauty and incredible symbolism. At first glace, I could tell that it was an amazing work of art, but I did not realize how much history was involved. I was not aware what the couple on the left or the woman on the right were supposed to represent until after looking into the painting's background. As for Venus, she is standing on a giant clam shell and is considered perfection, much like a pearl found in the sea. I especially like how Venus and the others are presented. They are considered to be extremely beautiful and desirable, yet they don't have the tiniest waist or the largest chest. Botticelli paints beauty in its true form, not what people now think it should be. The longer I look at this painting the more astonished I become. I would love to witness this in person and even own a copy to have in my home. This is a very meaningful work of art and the wonder it brings me is priceless.
Color:
The colors in this painting shift between bright and vibrant, and dark and gloomy. The bright colors are used to paint Venus, the couple on the left and the woman on the right. This allows them to be the focus of the painting and catch the eye. The darker colors of the sea, the trees and the ground add contrast to the work, highlighting the beauty of Venus and the others. The colors used are complimentary to one another and bring a sense of peace when I gaze upon them. The pink and blue reminds me of cotton candy at a festival, when life seemed simple and there wasn't a care in the world. When I see the darker colors, I think of the silhouette of the trees or mountains as the sun is setting. Yes, they are still beautiful, but the true beauty is the changing color of the sunset, the dark colors only enhance the charm.
Shape:
The 3-dimensional shape used in this painting allows it to be perceived as more realistic than if it were painted in 2-dimensions. With this added effect, it allows me to feel like I am actually there witnessing this occurrence. There are many different examples of how shapes are used in this painting, adding beauty and character to the work. The waves look like they are painted in a triangular shape, which allows focus to go onto Venus and highlight her form. The flowers, trees and many other objects in this painting are examples of organic shapes as they are painted to represent nature. The dress of the woman on the right is a great example of a representational shape because it fits to her form, blows in the wind and shows the wrinkles in the fabric, which adds a realistic look. The shell that Venus stands upon is a symbolic shape, symbolizing her as the pearl, showing her absolute perfection and beauty. The way that shapes are used in this painting allow me to appreciate not only Venus, but also the painting as a whole.
Pattern:
The pattern in the water is used in a way to represent the movement of the waves. I believe that it could have been painted in this way to show that the scene is still occurring and in constant motion. The water would also be an example of a natural pattern because the layout of the waves can be found in nature. Pattern as contrast can also be seen in this painting where the ground meets the water and the trees meet the sky. Both the contrasts occur near Venus, allowing the attention to go towards her instead of the background. Pattern as decoration can be seen on the dress of the woman on the right, as well as the cloak she is holding and giving to Venus. The use of these patterns gives me a feeling of nostalgia when I see them. Although I have never been presented with this scene in the past, the patterns seem familiar, like something I have witnessed in my own life. Because of this, I am given a calming sensation, like the feeling of coming home after a long trip.
Citation:
The history of this piece was interesting, you did a great job analyzing it. You're right, without knowing the context you'd miss many pieces of the history and meaning behind, things that help with understanding this piece. I enjoyed reading this and agree with you on the things you described such as; the emotion created with patterns of the waves. I also noticed the intentional coloring of this painting, to highlight and draw your focus onto Venus, in her shell. Another detail that captured my eye was the gold light color, around the shell she is on. Staring at art like this really amazes me because the detail is unreal sometimes, so life like. The shadows on skin, wrinkles on fabric. Overall, I think this piece of art is meant to invoke awe and interest, in the world around us and God, angels, etc.
ReplyDeleteWow, I had no idea the meaning behind this piece of art, what a great description! I too agree with you regarding the naturalness of Venus, and how she is portrayed, it is very innocent. One of the first things that my eye was drawn to for this painting is the texture of the water and the movement of the waves, to me they almost represent abstract fish scales. Great piece of art to choose!
ReplyDeleteYou did great on this post! I read all day on a handful of these pieces, and it was so hard to choose just one. You're both right, Destiny and Aleutia, I agree that without knowing the context you'd miss many pieces of the history and meaning behind. The shell she is standing on also caught my eye, but mostly the reason behind it, "perfect and unique like a pearl". The way you described the painting and all the history and information you posted makes me want to own one. Good job!
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