When I first started doing research on artist Sandro Botticelli I was surprised that there was little known about his personal life or what was his source of artistic inspiration. However, the few details that are known are quite interesting and rather scandalous. For instance, Botticelli never married and said the idea of marriage gave him nightmares. A rumor that circulated the art world was that Botticelli “kept a boy”. These accusations coupled with his artistic style of innocence and sensual beauty has led many historians to believe he was homosexual. Reading this in his biography made me wonder how this would have affected his paintings. Particularly in this time period, if he were to ever be open with his sexuality he easily could of been murdered. If he was gay, he was forced to hide his sexuality which he may have expressed in his art. His piece called “The Birth of Venus” has a definite air of sensual beauty yet still a sense of innocence.
I was shown this painting in a previous art class. I had no knowledge of Art vocabulary so at the time all I thought was that it was a “pretty picture”. However, I now can appreciate the painting so much more because I have the ability to analyze and critique the composition as a whole. Venus is clearly the area of focus. Not only is she centered in the painting with the three other figures gazing at her, but the lighting on her skin gives it high value and the eye goes directly to her figure. Venus is in the center with a figure on either side of her creating balance.