Primavera
Botticelli, c. 1482
Tempera on panel, 203 x 314 cm, Galleria degli Uffizi, Firenze
Seeing this painting in real life made me cry. Maybe it was Stendhal Syndrome or maybe it was just bewilderment at the beauty and perfection of the artwork. After seeing it printed and reproduced on the internet, in books and calendars, I was overwhelmed by the richness of the colour and the precise modelling of form and figures. Certainly nothing I had ever seen before had been so ethereal yet bold at the same time. The scale of the work and its sheer beauty created such grandeur that, upon entering the room in the Galleria degli Uffizi, it demanded attention. Also known as Allegory of Spring, the floral detailing is elaborate, with close to two hundred species being depicted. The origin of the work has been debated by art historians for many years, some claiming it was commissioned by Lorenzo de Medici, others say it was by his cousin Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de Medici; with varying reasons among them, including the celebration of a birth and a wedding. Botticelli was inspired by poems written by Ovid, Poliziano, and Lucretius. The artwork showcases the clarity, grace, and fluid harmony of the artist's technique and style. Primavera continues to be one of the most important paintings in the world, the mystery and depth of its subject never fully understood.
