The Renaissance gave the world many incredibly gifted people. Architects, artists and sculptors of this period created unique works of art. The beautiful buildings, which are well preserved, still delight many tourists. Museums of different countries offer everyone to look at the fabulously beautiful paintings painted in those distant times. A wonderful sculpture, drawn to the smallest detail, surprises with its harmonious completeness and expression.
Nowadays, everyone knows the names of many Renaissance titans. Benvenuto Cellini, Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Rafael Santi, Michelangelo Buonarotti, Sandro Botticelli and many others are familiar to us since childhood. However, not all famous artists of that era are now enjoyed deserved popularity during life.
The life story of Sandro Botticelli is very interesting. Today everyone knows that he was the creator of the world-famous masterpieces "Spring" and "The Birth of Venus." But at the beginning of the 16th century, things were quite different. Despite his talent and professionalism, this remarkable artist remained completely unknown. Once, when Queen Isabella of Castile was looking for a master to order beautiful paintings for her palace, she rejected Botticelli's candidacy, despite various recommendations, because he was not very fashionable at that time.
In the 19th century, the era of Romanticism began, and increased attention to the work of forgotten masters. It was at this time that interest in Sandro Botticelli appeared. Later, the works he created were internationally recognized, professional artists and ordinary art lovers began to admire the master. It is only a pity that he, like most of the most talented people, received his well-deserved fame several centuries after his death. What was the creative path of this Florentine forgotten for centuries?
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi was born in Florence around 1445 in the family of a leather artisan. He was a student of the then famous painter and Carmelite monk Filippo Lippi. S. Botticelli's first independent work is considered the fresco "St. Sebastian" for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Young Sandro was a wonderful portrait painter. He seemed to feel the
inner world of the people he portrayed. Maybe that's why his most beautiful paintings accurately convey the characters, thoughts and feelings of the people depicted. For example, the picture "Exile", on it is painted a crying woman who covers her face with her hands. Masterfully conveyed emotions of human suffering amaze every spectator.
The most famous works of the painter are the work "The Birth of Venus" and "Spring". His ideal of feminine beauty is a pretty face with subtle features and large brooding eyes. The changeable spirit of his time is shown by all of his paintings. He conveyed beautiful girls personifying the images of ancient mythology with romantic sadness and gentle charm.
Later works of the master carry asceticism and a certain confusion, they are sadly beautiful. The paintings of S. Botticelli at that time became even more expressive.
In 1510, at the age of 64, the artist died. He was buried in the cemetery of Onisanti Church near the house where he was born.
Nowadays, the exquisitely beautiful paintings of the talented Sandro Botticelli help to understand the inner world of a Renaissance man and teach young artists to find their own unique path in creativity.