Sandro Botticelli: the great artist of the Renaissance

The hero of this article will be the famous painter - Sandro Botticelli. Although the real name of the artist sounds like this - Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, and Sandro Botticelli is a pseudonym. Brief biography of the artist, whose years of life - 1445 - 1510.

Biography of Sandro Botticelli

Sandro Botticelli

It so happened that Sandro Botticelli was unknown for a long time. Only in the 19th century, through the efforts of art critics from Great Britain, did they learn about the artist, and his paintings took their rightful place in the best museums on the planet.

The birthplace of Sandro Botticelli is the city of Florence. His father Marianno de Vani Filipepi was a tradesman and was able to give his son a decent education. Botticelli studied painting with the Florentine sculptor and painter Andrea Verocchio. In the workshop of Verochio, he met Leonardo da Vinci, who also studied there.

Over time, Botticelli opens his own art workshop.

By about 1475, the artist was popular.

Sandro was considered "their own" even in wealthy royal dynasties. Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de Medici personally invited Botticelli to live and work in his villa. At this very time, the most famous canvases were painted - “ Spring" And " Birth of Venus».

In 1481, the master receives an invitation from Pope Sixtus IV to visit Rome. Sandro Botticelli, along with other artists, is involved in decorating the walls of the Sistine Chapel.

Due to the death of his father, the artist returns to his hometown in 1482.

Having experienced grief, the master began to work again. There were a lot of orders, and therefore the lighter orders were performed by the artist's students, while he worked on complex and expensive ones. This time was the pinnacle of Sandro Botticelli's popularity. He had no equal in Italy.

After 10 years, Savonarol came to power, despising the Medici dynasty. With the change of power came hard times for the artist. In addition, brother Botticelli died. After the death of his beloved brother Giovanni, he lost all support.

This period of time was very difficult for Botticelli, although it did not last long. Savonarola was excommunicated and burned in 1498.

The last years of Sandro Botticelli's life were spent in solitude. There is no trace of his former popularity. There were practically no orders. In 1510 the artist died.

The work of Sandro Botticelli has always stood out among other artists of the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci, "our Botticelli" affectionately spoke about his peer.