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ilvorangeiceblocks's avatar

Why was the Birth of Venus made?

Asked by ilvorangeiceblocks (865points) May 12th, 2013

I know that the Birth of Venus was commissioned by a member of the Medici family in Florence for Sandro Bottecelli to make, but I am unsure for what occassion. Was it a gift to a family member or friend, made to be part of a celebration or part of a tomb, or just to be part of the Medici family’s personal collection?

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2 Answers

Pied_Pfeffer's avatar

There doesn’t seem to be any information about why it was commissioned.

Botticelli was commissioned to paint the work by the Medici family of Florence, specifically Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici under the influence of his cousin Lorenzo de’ Medici, close friend to Botticelli. Source(Botticelli)

As to its commission, the painting was solicited by a member of the Medici family, which is thought wanted to have a reproduction of an earlier work by a different artist, which had been lost after the rule of Nero. Source

pleiades's avatar

if any art was good enough to have made it this far it was because they were commissioned pieces

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