Italian Renaissance: Sandro Botticelli Portrait of a Young Woman
Sandro Botticelli Portrait of a Young Woman.
Portrait of a Young Woman by Sandro Botticelli (1480-1485). Sandro Botticelli was an artist in the early renaissance. He is always known for starving towards beauty and virtue in all his paintings. I choose this painting because I was drawn to all the details throughout it. The lightning from the window behind the woman draws the viewer's eye to the woman's face. The darkness of the background also draws the viewer's eye to the woman's outfit. The presentation of the woman sideview gives a sense of mystery and aloofness. Not being the front profile, it makes you wonder more about the mystery woman.
I would definitely own a copy of this artwork. The backstory of this is very interesting it is rumored that Sandro Botticelli made multiple paintings of very similar looking woman which all of been named Portrait of a Young Woman. Sandro Botticelli was patronaged by the Medici family. His work was also influenced by humanist ideals.
The Art Story. “Sandro Botticelli.” The Art Story, 2018, www.theartstory.org/artist/botticelli-sandro/. Sandro Botticelli Paintings, Bio, Ideas | TheArtStory
Villa, Angelica. “From Medicis to Mythologies: How Sandro Botticelli Became One of History’s Most Influential Artists.” ARTnews.com, 25 Jan. 2021, www.artnews.com/feature/sandro-botticelli-who-is-he-why-is-he-important-1234581919/. /.Who Was Sandro Botticelli, and Why Was He Important? (artnews.com)
The humanistic aspect behind this painting creates a sense of mistrust. The curve in her back makes her appear as if she is slouching and the direction of her eye makes it seem as though she is glaring. I also noticed her hair doesn’t fall naturally but almost creates a snake like shape giving reference to Medusa. The use of light is another theme that I believe supports this idea. The dark shadows engulf the entire room she is in. The only light allowed in is that coming from the window.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading your thoughts on this piece. What appealed to me about this piece of work and your analysis was the way you go in detail about her face. I liked how you highlighted the mysterious views regarding this piece, as well as the way the lighting is draw in to add more detail to the painting. What stuck out to me is the way her hair looks, the singular braid falling over her shoulder as well as the braid being used to hold up the rest of her hair being pulled back into what looks like a messy bun. As well as the different length adds depth to the hair and makes it look more realistic. Another thing that intrigued me was the window in the background showing light but the main light source appearing to be on the opposite side, which cast shadows behind her and emphasize the feature of her face and clothing.
ReplyDeleteI like the detail of the hair in this painting. That’s where the focus of my attention has been drawn. The use of line and color to give her hair life - the strands sticking out, the curls, the different braids, etc. It’s so intricately drawn. I also like the pearls or beads embedded into her braids. It makes me think this woman has some kind of status. Also, the use of color and tone presents shadows across her face and in the wrinkles in her dress. It gives the painting depth. This painting certainly has a focus on the individual, which is a humanist quality. Also, portraiture became popularized during the renaissance. I’m curious about why the inside of the room the woman is in is so dark.
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