renaissance allegory

The Primavera by Botticelli, c.1482

Sunday, 6 March 2011

Themes:

Classical mythologyNature (Botany)Spring (The Weather)MarriageLove (Platonic)Re-birth (Renaissance)Poetry



Composition



Composition

male



Composition

malemale



Composition

malemale

female



Composition

malemale

female female



Composition

malemale

female female

Technique:

balanceorder

harmonyframingrhythmcontrol

structuresymmetryrepetition



Composition

malemale

female female

Technique:

balanceorder

harmonyframingrhythmcontrol

structuresymmetryrepetition

Effects:

flowingsinuous

serpentinegentle

gracefuldelicatevibrant

mysteriousidealised



The Gaze



The Gaze

?



The Gaze

??


Allegory:

An allegory is a device used to present an idea, principle or meaning, which can be presented in literary form, such as a poem or novel, or in visual form, such as in painting or sculpture. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation.



Allegory



Allegory

Zephyrus



Allegory

Zephyrus

Chloris



Allegory

Zephyrus

Chloris

Flora



Allegory

Zephyrus

Chloris

The GracesFlora



Allegory

Zephyrus

Chloris

The Graces

Mercury

Flora



Allegory

Zephyrus

Chloris

The Graces

CupidMercury

Flora



Allegory

Zephyrus

Chloris

VenusThe Graces

CupidMercury

Flora


Platonic Love:

The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino. Platonic love in this original sense of the term is examined in Plato's dialogue the Symposium, which has as its topic the subject of love or Eros generally. With genuine platonic love, the beautiful or lovely other person inspires the mind and the soul and directs one's attention to spiritual things. One proceeds from recognition of the beauty of another to appreciation of beauty as it exists apart from any individual, to consideration of divinity, the source of beauty, to love of divinity.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsilio_Ficino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsilio_Ficino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium_%28Plato%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium_%28Plato%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros_%28love%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros_%28love%29

The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, c.1486


Patronage:

Along with Da Vinci and Michelangelo, Botticelli was supported by Lorenzo de’Medici, a member of the ruling family of fifteenth century Florence, Italy. Lorenzo, while a poor business man was successful at promoting the arts and philosophical learning. He secured patrons for his favoured artists; he supported Neoplatonic debate that fuelled the development of humanism. Lorenzo’s humanistic influence in Botticelli’s work can be seen in the neopagan themes in his most famous paintings, The Birth of Venus and Primavera. A few of his earlier religious works include members of the Medici clan-- for example, portraits of Cosimo, Giovanni and Giuliano de’ Medici appear in the Adoration of the Magi.

Pope Sixtus IV was briefly a patron of Botticelli. Sixtus IV summoned him to work on the Sistine Chapel. Scenes from the Life of Moses is one of the frescos he painted on the north and south walls of the chapel. His paintings in the Sistine Chapel did not achieve the fame of those completed by Michelangelo, and in fact are not considered some of his best work.


renaissance allegory

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