Born in Florence in 1445, the artist was originally named Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi. He acquired the nickname ‘Botticelli’ — meaning ‘little barrel’ — after it was originally given to his older brother. Botticelli studied precision and the decorative use of line while training as a goldsmith, before joining the studio of painter Fra Filippo Lippi. Under his tutelage, Botticelli learnt the fundamentals of fresco and panel painting, and a refined sense of composition.
In 1481, the Pope invited Botticelli to Rome to help decorate the walls of the Sistine Chapel. He painted frescoes depicting scenes from the Life of Moses and the Temptations of Christ. A year later, the artist returned to Florence, with 1478–1490 being the most prolific stage of his career. During this time, he produced famous pieces, such as Primavera (or Spring) (c. 1480) and The Birth of Venus (c.1480s), which fused mythical allusion with lyrical beauty to appear almost timeless.
Botticelli’s figures showcased idealised beauty rather than strict realisim, featuring flowing drapery and rhythmic lines that meant the figures almost appeared to float. This dream-like atmosphere his paintings created set him apart from the more scientific approach of his contemporaries such as Leonardo da Vinci.
Alongside life-size mythological paintings — such as Venus and Mars (c. 1485) — the artist is renowned for his graceful pictures of the Madonna and Child. His depiction of the Madonna of the Magnificat, featuring serene figures and a luminous palette, was sold by Christie's in 2022 for US$48.48 million.
Unusually for the time, Botticelli made drawings independent from his paintings, including a series of illustrations for a deluxe manuscript edition of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Art historian Bernard Berenson described Botticelli as: ‘the greatest artist of linear design that Europe has ever had’. The Italian master’s draughtsmanship was celebrated in a 2023/2024 exhibition in San Francisco, supported by Christie’s.
The artist’s work was impacted by the turbulent politics of the 1490s, which saw the Medici expelled from Florence and the rise of Savonarola, who called for moral reform. The detail of Botticelli’s earlier works was replaced by a simpler approach, with his paintings becoming more introspective and sombre.
After his death in 1510, Botticelli was largely forgotten until the Pre-Raphaelites rediscovered him in the late 19th century. The artist’s emphasis on mood, line and symbolism over anatomical precision continued to influence artists centuries later, with his paintings remaining iconic symbols of beauty and mythology.
Alessandro Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli (Florence 1444/45-1510)
'The Rockefeller Madonna': Madonna and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist
ALESSANDRO FILIPEPI, CALLED SANDRO BOTTICELLI (FLORENCE 1445-1510) AND STUDIO
The Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist
ATTRIBUTED TO SANDRO BOTTICELLI (FLORENCE 1445-1510)
The Madonna and Child with the infant Saint John the Baptist
Studio of Alessandro Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli (Florence 1444/5-1510)
The Madonna of the Eucharist
Studio of Alessandro Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli (Florence 1444/45-1510)
The Madonna and Child with a goldfinch
Studio of Alessandro Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli (Florence 1445?-1510)
The Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist
Workshop of Alessandro Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli (Florence 1444/5-1510)
Saint John the Baptist - a fragment
ECOLE FLORENTINE DU XVE SIECLE, ENTOURAGE DE FILIPPINO LIPPI
L'Annonciation: L'Archange Gabriel; La Vierge Marie
After Alessandro Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli
The Madonna and Child
LUCIEN LÉVY-DHURMER (FRENCH, 1865-1953)
Bella Simonetta