Table of contents:
- Botticelli artist
- The plot and meaning of the picture
- Heroes of the picture
- The symbolism of the picture
- Interpretations of the painting
Video: Why the famous painting by Botticelli "Spring" is called a mythological mystery
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
The painting "Spring" ("Primavera") was called a "mythological riddle", and critics did not agree on the meaning of the canvas: an allegory of a wedding or a fertile season? Glorification of Venus or Beauty? There are many interpretations of "Spring", while one does not exclude the other. What mysteries does this famous painting by Botticelli hide?
Botticelli artist
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Botticelli Filippi was born and died in Florence. He became a favorite artist of the Medici family. For an influential patron, he created his most famous paintings. "Spring" was ordered in 1482 by Lorenzo Medici as a wedding present to his 17-year-old nephew Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco Medici. She was supposed to be the interior of the Medici villa in Castello, near Florence, and serve as a kind of instruction for a young obstinate young man, whom his uncle, for political reasons, married to a girl from a noble family, Semiramide d'Appiani. Oddly enough, after the death of Botticelli in 1510, this painting was considered outdated, too far from the popular style of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo at the time. A similar attitude developed towards other works by Botticelli, forgotten for hundreds of years, until critics rediscovered them in the 19th century.
Spring is one of the greatest works of the Uffizi Museum in Florence. It is a mesmerizing work where flowers, plants and dancing figures create a world of pure grace and movement.
The plot and meaning of the picture
The performance in the picture is unrealistic and looks more like a theatrical melodic set with a completely flat background. Here the artist does not reproduce reality, but creates an ideal world of images. The characters have unhurried flying postures and gestures, melancholic smiles, their figures are distributed in a strict sequence. If you pay attention, you can notice the musicality and melody of the composition: groups of three persons move around the picture like notes in a piece of music. It is this musicality that makes Spring an exceptional and unsurpassed picture.
Heroes of the picture
The canvas depicts nine heroes of classical mythology, towering over a flowering lawn in a grove of orange and laurel trees.
Venus, the goddess of love, fertility and renewal of nature, figures in the center of "Spring". Her presence is a reflection of the humanistic interest in the classical world that was popular in Florence at the time. Humanism is the main idea of the Renaissance. Dressed in typical 15th century Florentine clothing, Venus stands in an arch formed by tree branches. She frames Venus and gives her a privileged position in the painting. Cupid hovers over her head. According to a number of art critics, the prototype of Venus was Simonetta Vespucci (Medici's daughter-in-law - Semiramide d'Appiani). On the left, the viewer sees the beautiful three graces dancing by the hands (in mythology, this trio of sisters often symbolizes pleasure, chastity and beauty). The Roman writer Seneca calls them "pure, blameless and holy." Pearls are delicately woven into their hair, which symbolizes purity. The robe of the Graces looks like lace, light and transparent - this is a demonstration of Botticelli's virtuoso skill in depicting complex types of fabric. It is interesting to note that the three graces are targeted by Cupid's arrow, which reinforces the idea of marriage.
To the left of the three graces, Mercury, the Roman god of May, uses his caduceus (staff) to drive away gray clouds. As a messenger of the gods, he is dressed in accordance with his mythological role - in a helmet and winged sandals.
On the right side of the painting is Zephyr, the Greek god of the west wind, chasing a nymph named Chloris. After he manages to reach her, Chlorida transforms into Flora, the goddess of spring, who is depicted to the left of the couple. Flora scatters flowers that she has collected on her dress - this is a symbol of the coming spring. Thus, the picture illustrates natural transformation.
For beauty and unsurpassed painting, Botticelli included over 500 plant species in the scene, including 200 types of flowers. Depicting in detail the natural environment with an abundance of fruits and flowers, Botticelli was inspired by the art of tapestry, for example, the milfleur ("thousand flowers") carpets, which were popular throughout Europe at that time.
The symbolism of the picture
The orange grove is a symbol of the Medici dynasty (customers of the picture). Mercury - the Roman god of eloquence, skill, trade and theft, messenger and messenger of the gods, identified with Hermes. Three charites (grace) - Aglaya, Euphrosina, Thalia - the goddesses of fun, inspiration and joy life. Handmaidens of Venus. They were called upon during the festivities to bring harmony. Venus is the goddess of beauty, fertility and prosperity. Depicted as a modest married woman, Zephyr is the god of the west wind.
Flora is the goddess of flowers, blossom, spring and fruit of the field. The painting shows her process of reincarnation from the nymph Chlorida. Cupid is the son of Venus, hovering over the head of his mother. His eyes are closed because love is blind. He directs his arrow to one of the haritas, which spotted Mercury.
Interpretations of the painting
The most famous and beloved by Botticelli's admirers is the interpretation of the painting as follows: thanks to love (Venus), a person's life moves from feelings (Zephyr, Chlorida and Flora) to contemplation (Mercury), passing through the mind (three Charites). There is another popular interpretation: on the painting depicts an allegory of the months of renewal and prosperity. From right to left are the personifications of February (Zephyr), March (the fleeing nymph Chloris, from whose mouth flowers are falling), April (the same nymph that turned into Flora), May (Venus), three summer months (three graces), and, finally, September (Mercury scattering the clouds). In this vein, Botticelli sought to demonstrate the renewal of love feelings on the way to marriage, and today this work is one of the most important in the early Renaissance. The painting is kept in the famous Florentine Uffizi Gallery, continuing to delight and attract viewers with its mysterious symbolism, thoughtful composition and delicate attention to detail.
And in continuation of the theme, a story about what hidden symbols are present in Botticelli's painting "The Birth of Venus".
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