How Did The Birth Of Venus Influence Art

The Birth of Venus is a masterpiece created by Sandro Botticelli in the year 1482, this masterpiece was created during the renaissance era. The Birth of Venus depicts the Greek goddess Aphrodite which later on was adapted by the Roman in their culture as Venus. The Birth of Venus was commissioned by the Medici Family which was a very influential family during the Renaissance. Differently, from artwork from previous eras Botticelli did not create a piece of art that represented a Christian legend but instead, he created a piece of art inspired by an ancient myth from the Greek and Roman Era. The Birth of Venus is a masterpiece that was only able to be created due to the Renaissance
The main theme of the painting The Birth of Venus was taken
out of the classical poet Hesiod as he described the birth of Venus. Hesiod describes Venus rising from the foaming sea after Chronos cut off his father Uranus’ penis and threw it into the ocean. Botticelli used a vast amount of symbolism on the Birth of Venus. "Venus is portrayed naked on a shell on the seashore; on her left the winds blow gently caressing her hair with a shower of roses, on her right a handmaid waits for the goddess to go closer to dress her shy body. The meadow is sprinkled with violets, a symbol of modesty but often used for love potions." (). In the classical times, the seashell was used as a symbol that symbolized the female genitalia. Venus was the goddess of love, sex, beauty, and fertility.