The Birth of Venus
By Sandro Botticelli (c. 1484–1486)
"The Birth of Venus" is a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, depicting the goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth, emerged from the sea. She stands on a giant scallop shell, blown towards the shore by the Zephyrs. On the right, Hora, a nymph of the seasons, awaits her, ready to clothe her with a floral mantle. The painting is renowned for its lyrical beauty, elegant lines, and mythological narrative, embodying the Neoplatonic ideals of beauty and divine love prevalent during the Florentine Renaissance.
Medium:
Tempera on canvas
Dimensions:
172.5 cm × 278.5 cm (67.9 in × 109.6 in)
Location:
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Period:
Early Renaissance