Botticelli - The Birth of Venus

Botticelli - The Birth of Venus (1482)

France Stamp issued 2008

Painting held at Uffizi Museum, Florence Italy

This painting shows the goddess of beauty, Venus, coming to life after Zephyr has breathed life upon her.  Although the painting is clear and full of realism, it is also unrealistic, with an idealized coastline and Venus is unbalanced, with the wind blowing her in towards the coastline. 

Botticelli prodcued a large number of mythological and secular works, although he is also known for depictions of the Madonna.  This work was produced for the Medici family - he later went on to paint the family in his depiction of Adoration of the Magi.

Alessandro Botticelli - Adoration of the Magi.

Alessandro Botticelli - Adoration of the Magi. 

Dominica 1c Stamp Issued 1973

Painting completed c.1475. 

Painting held at Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy

This stamp was developed from Botticelli's most famous work, being "Adoration of the Magi".  The stamp itself does not include the entire painting, as only the central part of the painting has been captured.  The entire painting contains more details of this gathering, where the manger has been set up in the ruins of a Roman style temple.  The figures at the front of the painting are clothed in rich garments in the original painting.

Botticelli - Madonna del Libro

Alessandro Botticelli (1444-1510) - Madonna del Libro

Painting completed in 1480

Hungary Stamp issued in 1969

Painting Held at Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan, Italy

Botticelli was one of the great renaissance painters who gained fame for painting a number of Madonna scenes.  This stamp covers part of one his most famous Madonna depictions.  He was also commissioned to work on frescos in the Sistine Chapel along with other painters at the time.  


It is also interesting to note that Botticelli was a follower of Savonarola in the latter stages of his life.  Savonarola a priest and leader in Florence at the time, who was known for advocating book burning, opposition against the renaissance and the destruction of immoral art.  It is said that Botticelli destroyed some of his own artworks.