About the Artwork
Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Period: Early Renaissance
Date: c. 1484–1486
Medium: Tempera on canvas
Dimensions: 172.5 cm × 278.5 cm (67.9 in × 109.6 in)
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
"The Birth of Venus" is one of the most iconic paintings of the Italian Renaissance. It depicts the goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth, emerging from the sea. She is shown standing on a giant scallop shell, blown to shore by the winds Zephyr and Aura. On the right, a Hora (goddess of the seasons) awaits to clothe Venus with a cloak. Botticelli's distinctive style, characterized by its flowing lines and ethereal figures, is beautifully exemplified in this masterpiece.
