Spring c. 1480

Winter is officially over, and spring is in swing! Rebirth, nature, and renewal are key themes in Sandro Botticelli’s famous panel painting ‘Primavera’ (‘Spring’, in English). Today, ‘Primavera’ is considered ‘one of the most written about, and most controversial paintings in the world’… but this wasn’t always the case. Botticelli was a relatively unpopular figure of the early Renaissance until his reappraisal by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in the 1850s. This raises interesting questions concerning our present-day perceptions of the history of art, much of which is informed by 19th century taste and trends. 🖼️ Vast in scale at 202 x 314 cm, ‘Primavera’ depicts nine figures drawn from classical mythology. Who are they? On the far left is Mercury, the messenger of the gods, followed by the three graces in white. The goddess Venus, also depicted in Botticelli’s famous tempera painting ‘The Birth of Venus’ (c.1484-1486), occupies the centre of the composition. Next stands the serene goddess Flora, dressed in a natural floral print to indicate her powers of creation. Originally a nymph named Chloris, Flora was deified after her abduction by the wind god Zephyrus. The two figures on the right side of the composition are often interpreted to be Chloris and Zephyrus. A string of vines emerges from Chloris’ open mouth, symbolising her transformation into the goddess of flowers. Finally, a cupid flies above the scene, armed with an arrow of love. Cupid is blindfolded, perhaps symbolising the unpredictable nature of love. ❤️ No known narrative links these mythological figures together. Rather, Botticelli has drawn on a diverse array of classical and Renaissance sources. These wide inspirations would be identifiable to humanist intellectuals. This displays the renewed interest in the ancient world during the fifteenth century. 🏛️ As well as the nine figures, Botticelli has included over 190 recognisable plant species in ‘Primavera’. It’s no surprise that this painting took the artist over three years to complete! 🖌️ ‘Primavera’ is rich with a wealth of details. Feel free to zoom in and explore – does anything particularly interest you? 👇👀 Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham