Ashley Webb
Art History 2700
Tuesdays and Thursdays – 7:00pm till 8:20pm
December 5, 2015
Final Research Paper- La Primavera
La Primavera. Often referred to as the Allegory of Spring, or just Spring Time, is the first
artwork in which we see being representational of a new style of art called the Renaissance.
The style of the Renaissance Era was introduced to the public in the 1400’s, where we saw a
clear advancement in science, literature, music, and especially Philosophy. Aside from the
advancements with the people, we see a clear advancement in the artwork as well. With clear
representation in rich colors being displayed, along with a more realistic, although still stylized
depiction of people. Although none more than Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greek and
Roman Mythology, which are taking a higher stand in art of this time. To understand further as
to why Primavera is such a great representation of this style of art, we first have to look at this
specific piece and analyze its importance and iconology.
La Primavera was painted on a wooden canvas with tempura paint sometime between
the dates of 1478-1485 in Florence Italy. The specific artist of the painting is Sandro Botticelli,
who is well known for his other signature pieces of the Renaissance age like “the Birth of
Venus” and “Mars and Venus”. His particular style, along with many of this time tend to stick
with the ideas of Classical Greek and Roman Mythology. It is because of this reason, as to why I
choose this piece of art to study and why the early Florentine Renaissance is my favorite
artwork. Although what is the deeper purpose of an artwork like this getting created for?
The original intention of this particular painting was meant Lorenzo Di Pierfrancesco
who was a member of the Medici Family of Italy. Since this was once hung over the bed of a
bride in the Medici Family, the hope was that the story being told would bring their family
much abundance and fertility like shown in the original painting.
To deeper understand the meaning of this, you must first look into the Classic Greek and
Roman Mythology. Since we know that this painting was chosen for a specific reason, we can
first claim that the painting is showing its great abundance through the access amount of
oranges that are placed above each individual figure. This would be meaningful in saying that
with new marriage comes the hope and intentions of a wealthy family along with many children
to come.
Next, we must look into the people. We can see that within this photo there are nine
figures being depicted. All being of great significance to Ancient Greek and Roman mythology.
The first person I would like to point out would be the Woman shown directly in the middle of
the painting. Although she is in the background, she is the largest figure in the painting as well
as being placed in the center. Because of this, we are able to tell that she is the main focus of
interest. The woman is dressed in very rich attire along with a look that is pointed directly at
us, many would like to claim that she is the Virgin Mary. Although we are clearly aware that
this painting is showing us figures representational of Greek and Roman Mythology. For this
reason, we are able to state that the women being depicted is Venus. The mother of the
Roman people. Venus is known to be very beautiful, within direct connection to Love, Sex,
Beauty, Desire, Prosperity, and most important Fertility. This is the exact idea that the Medici
family wanted to get across with the new marriage of the hopes of the new offspring.
The next key to understanding this artwork is knowing the story that is placed on the
right of the painting. The figure being shown in the tree grabbing the woman is known as
Zephyr. God of the West Winds, or the God of spring. The story of Zephyr begins with the
figure onto which he is grabbing, Chloris. A great Nymph in which we associate her with spring,
flowers, and new growth. Zephyr was so tempted by Chloris that when he found her, he raped
her and because of the high shame he felt for what he had done he devoted himself to her,
married her, and declared her Flora. Flora was the new Roman Goddess of the flowers and the
season of spring. In which she became the new symbol of nature and flowers. This painting is
showing the exact story of that by showing Chloris being taken by Nymph while she is wearing a
translucent gown and flowers are literally being sprung from her mouth while she has managed
to grab onto her new self, Flora. Flora who is now shown wearing a gown drenched in rich
colored flowers, is covered in over 90 different variations of flowers. Being an explanation as to
saying that with this new marriage may the two gods of spring, be as abundant and at the fast
growing pace of new life we see every spring.
After looking to the right, we then move our way over to the left of the painting where
we see the depiction of the three graces. In Greek mythology, the Three Graces are
represented here dancing together in the meadow with sheer translucent clothing on. The first
grace being Aglaia, is the grace over beauty. The second Euphrosyne, the grace over Delight
and Thalia. And the Third being the grace over blossom. With all three you get the perfect
equation for the Greek and Romans believed was the symbol of fulfilled pleasant movements
and the key to goodwill.
Going along with the three graces, we can’t help but to notice cupid, shown above
Venus bearing and pointing his arrow to the graces while they dance together in the meadow.
Cupid is a figure important to Greek mythology as the symbol of desire, erotic love, attraction,
and affection. Although because of that, he is sometimes known to be the temptation of a
ruined marriage. Could you say that this is why we see him pointing his arrow at the three
graces? Maybe in an attempt to hit one as to ruin one of the three gifts these women bare? Or
as to help increase the affection along with the marriage? Although, with all three, there is no
chance that anything else in your family existing. Which may be the reason as to why we see
them dancing together, as to show a celebration of new life with all the beauty and grace that
each one depicts.
The last figure that we tend to notice, is he who is shown in the far right corner. This is
the God Mercury. Mercury is known to be the messenger of the gods, and the god over luck,
trickery, financial gain, as well as being the guide to the souls of the underworld. Although
Mercury plays an important role in Greek and Roman mythology while being a major god. It is
unclear as to why he isn’t shown further in this painting with more importance. Aside from that,
while observing Mercuries attire we can see that he is dressed in elegant clothing of rich colors.
Beside from Venus, he is also the only other figure wearing shoes. Shoes in which are equipped
with wings as to depict that he at any moment may he fly away and deliver the message to the
gods that new offspring has been brought into the world. We are also able to see that Mercury
has his hand up to the heavens, as though pushing away the dark winter cloud. Being a
significant role as to the arrival of spring and the new life that is waiting to emerge.
After depicting each individual, as well as stating what each figure is known for. It is
clear to us that this photo was painting with the intentions of showing fertile and abundant life.
It was meant to be a representation of time in which we saw a moment of all the gods wishing
happiness and luck onto this new family to come. It is meant to be a statement of luck in which
the stylized gods will be the leaders into wealth and abundance to this new family. While being
unique from any other piece of art since it has such clear representation of the gods as well as
a full statement and meaning as to what the artwork is all together trying to get across.
Works Cited:
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