Analysis Of Venus And Mars By Sandro Botticelli

Introduction The aim of this paper is to analyze the painting Venus and Mars by Sandro Botticelli and to explore the possible meanings that could be construed from this painting. I will be discussing the perspective, colors, symbolism, light, Botticelli’s intention and painting techniques. Due to the limitations of the word count, I will not go very in-depth about any one discussion versus another but will try to give a broad analysis of the painting. I will also briefly introduce the artist and give some background information on him.

Who was Sandro Botticelli? Sandro Botticelli was born Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi in 1445 and was giving the nickname ‘Botticelli’. He was known for his practical jokes and quick wit when he was younger and was quickly taken out of school when he became bored with it and was sent to work as an apprentice for Maso Finiguerra, and later Fra Filippo Lippi. For most of Botticelli’s life, he worked for the Medici family whom he had developed a relationship with through Fra Filippo Lippi. ‘Sandro Botticelli…became the most representative artist of the humanistic thought that dominated the latter half of the century’. In 1481, he was summoned by the Pope to Rome to help decorate the walls of the Sistine Chapel; this was the only time he worked

Mars’ right leg and hands, for example, look like they are not at correct, comfortable angles. Venus’s left hand also looks slightly unrealistic. The shadowing on Venus and Mars gives depth and perspective to their bodies and the darker forests behind them adds depth to the painting, making the observer feel as if they are in an alcove with Venus and Mars and not out in the open closer to the mountains in the background. There doesn’t appear to be one, single light source; simply a general light, like that of the sun shining on Venus and Mars from the front of the