Botticelli Biography
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipe (Sandro Botticelli) ( c. 1445 – May 17, 1510) Botticelli
was at the heart of the early renaissance – the new emergence of art in Italy during the fifteenth
and sixteenth century. His art was a combination of the Florentine school, a study of the great
classic styles and his own inventiveness and flair for the spectacular.
His great masterpieces – The Birth of Venus and Primavera
are striking in their originality of composition and study. They now rank amongst the greatest
works of art.
After his death, he was overshadowed by the high renaissance genius’s of Raphael, Leonardo
and Michelangelo but, his reputation has recovered in recent times as there is great admiration
for his masterpieces.
Botticelli was born in 1445, and little is known about his early life, though Vasari suggests he
was initially trained as a goldsmith. However, by 1470 Botticelli had his own workshop and was
gaining significant commission. An important commission was from Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco
de’ Medici at Castello, this included the commission for Primevera. His Birth of Venus also
ended up at the de ‘Medici’s place in Castello.
In 1481, he was summoned by the Pope to contribute to the painting of the Sistine chapel.
In the early 1500s he was an important member of the Florentine local council and took part in
deciding where to place Michelangelo’s David. But, after his death in 1510 he became eclipsed
by his more illustrious contemporaries.