primavera Flashcards
(33 cards)
ARTIST
Botticelli
Patron
Lorenzo di Pierfranceso de’ Medici, comissioned for his marriage to Semiramade appiani
EFFECT OF BOTTICELLI DRAWING ON LITERARY SOURCES
CREATES POETIC INVITO
raises status of artist to that of an intellectual- idea of humanism
what was poetic invinto
Botticelli’s interpretation of these sources exemplifies Alberti’s concept of poetic inventio in painting, an activity of the painter Alberti defined as not analogous to but identical with poetic thinking
how is humanism shown
-references to patron and marriage
-poetic invito and use of intellectual literary sources
what classical source did bottocelli draw on for the flowers
Pliny’s Naturalis Historia may also have been a source for the flowers and plants that are described in minute detail by Botticelli.
Drawing on this ancient text in order to study and better understand nature demonstrates the Renaissance aspirations towards Classical learning and naturalism.
how do the figures embody the groom and the bride
Zephyr embodies the groom, Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco, while Flora is the bride, Semiramide
Lorenzo il Magnifico may be identified as Mercury, who pushes the winter clouds away, Lorenzo was responsible for creating the favourable climate for this marriage, he had negotiated the union.
how is zzephyr identified as the groom
The tree next to Zephyr is the Laurel tree, or in Latin, Laurentius, the name of the groom of the marriage – Lorenzo. Zephyr is identified as the groom.
ficance of chloris struggling from zephr in the context of the marriage
The marriage between Lorenzo and Semiramide was, after all, not a union of love, but a political union that had been very carefully planned by Lorenzo il Magnifico.
CONNECTION TO MARRIAGE
La Primavera is thought to have been created for the wedding of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici and Semiramide Appiani.
The painting’s themes of love, fertility, and the Three Graces (representing ideal wifely virtues) all contribute to the connection to marriage.
DISPLAY
displayed in the couples townhouse above apianni’s bedchamber, fixed to the upper part of the lettucio
symbolises hope for fertilitry and a fruitful union
What techniques did Botticelli use in La Primavera?
Botticelli used tempera on panel, a technique that involves pigments mixed with egg yolk. This technique was common during the Renaissance and allowed for fine detail and vibrant color. The composition is detailed, with great attention to the textures of clothing, the delicate play of light and shadow, and the naturalistic rendering of plants and flowers.
NEOPLATONIC THEORY BEHIND LA PRIMAVERA
Neo-platonism was a philosophical and aesthetic movement trying to blend the thought of Plato with the noblest concepts of Christianity.
The painting has been interpreted as an illustration of the ideal of Neoplatonic love, popularised among the Medici and their followers
how does it draw on literary sources
draws from a number of classical and Renaissance literary sources, including the works of the Ancient Roman poet Ovid (Fasti)
*The group at the right of the painting was inspired by a description by the Roman poet Ovid of the arrival of Spring (Fasti Book 5). (Aby Warburg brought this link to light)
less certainly, Lucretius (De Rerum Nature), and may also allude to a poem by Poliziano, the Medici house poet who may have helped Botticelli devise the composition.
how can we see different angles of the human body
*The three graces (popular in Rome statuary) traditionally allow the artist to show three different angles of the human body simultaneously
literary sources
Ovid’s Fasti and Lucretius’s De reum Natura
what was the influence of flemish tapestries
The overall appearance, and size, of the painting is similar to that of the millefleur (“thousand flower”) Flemish tapestries that were popular decorations for palaces at the time.C
Who are the main figures in La Primavera and what do they represent?
Zephyr: The god of wind, depicted chasing Chloris, a nymph whom he transforms into Flora, the goddess of flowers.
Venus: The central figure representing beauty and fertility, associated with love and marriage.
The Three Graces: Symbolize Chastity, Beauty, and Love, ideal qualities for a wife in Renaissance society.
Mercury: The god of communication and transition, clearing the clouds with his cadeaus to indicate new beginnings and the arrival of spring.
What is the symbolic significance of Venus in La Primavera?
Venus symbolizes love, beauty, and fertility, and is often considered the protector of marriage and sexual desire
In La Primavera, she represents the fertility and harmonious balance that come with the arrival of spring, while her central position in the composition emphasizes her importance.
she is portrayed as CLOTHED not naked, indicative that sexual relations should only happen after marriage and for purposes of recreation
how is fertility expressed through flora
the theme of fertility is expressed not only in the abundant blossoms and ripe oranges of the picture, but also in the way that the figure of Flora is scattering red and white roses from her lap – a clear indication of the offspring she is expected to bear.
Her position in the painting also reflects this, in terms of the vertical link between herself and the trees above her. To her left, representing the time before her marriage, there is no fruit in the trees. To her right, representing the time after her union, the trees are full of fruit. It is no coincidence that the fruits are oranges, which represent the Medici palle.
hat is the significance of the Three Graces in La Primavera?
The Three Graces represent Chastity, Beauty, and Love, which were ideal attributes of a woman in the context of Renaissance marriage.
They are depicted as engaging in a graceful dance, which reinforces the themes of unity and harmony in relationships.
DANCE SHOWS DIFF ANGLES OF ANATOMY
w does the painting’s setting contribute to its meaning?
The setting is a garden that symbolizes fertility and the coming of spring. It is filled with myrtle and orange trees, both associated with Venus and fertility.
The garden setting creates a connection between nature’s cycles and human fertility, reinforcing the painting’s themes of marriage, love, and the renewal of life.
flora vertically under tree, symbolises fertility after marriage
sigi=nificance of orange
emblem of the medici family
SIGNIFICANCE OF MYRTYLE
boughs of myrtle surround venus emphasising sexuality and fertility
