Sandro Botticelli
The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Childabout 1490On Display | NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND
Botticelli's composition, inspired by the work of Filippo Lippi, is unusual in two respects: canvas paintings were still uncommon at this time and the Christ Child was rarely shown asleep. This variation could be interpreted as a reminder of Christ's death. His future suffering for Mankind may also be symbolised by the detailed plants and fruits. The red strawberries, for example, may refer to Christ's blood. They also complement the beautiful rose bower which forms an 'enclosed garden', a symbol of the Virgin derived from the Old Testament Song of Solomon. The painting was probably designed for a domestic setting.
Glossary [2] Show
Composition
The arrangement of different elements in a work of art.
Symbolism
The representation of subjects or ideas by use of a device or motif to create underlying meaning. A literary and artistic movement that originated in France and spread through much of Europe in the late 19th century. There was no consistent style but rather an appeal to the idea of the artist as mystic or visionary and the desire to express a world beyond superficial appearances.
- Accession no. NG 2709
- Medium Tempera and gold on canvas
- Size 122.00 x 80.30 cm (framed: 188.00 x 107.30 x 21.00 cm)
- Credit Purchased with the aid of the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Art Fund, the Scottish Executive, the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Tom Farmer, the Dunard Fund, Mr and Mrs Kenneth Woodcock (donation made through the American Friends of the Na
Sandro Botticelli (Italian (Florentine), 1444 - 1510)
The Florentine painter Botticelli produced some of the most celebrated pictures of the Renaissance. His 'Primavera' ('Spring') and 'Birth of Venus' (both in the Uffizi, Florence) were painted for members of the powerful Medici family. He trained as a goldsmith before joining Filippo Lippi's workshop. The ideal beauty of his graceful madonnas and mythological figures emphasises expressive and sensuous forms rather than anatomical accuracy. He left Florence briefly (1481-2) to work on frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, Rome. His later paintings, are infused with an expressive intensity, influenced by the stern preaching of Savonarola.
Glossary [4] Show
Fresco
A wall painting applied to fresh, wet plaster so that the coloured pigment is absorbed into the surface of the wall.
Medici
A wealthy and important family who ruled Florence for much of the 15th to the 18th centuries. During this period they commissioned many great artists and architects including Fra Angelico, Donatello, and Botticelli.
Mythological
Refers to figures and events from myths which are the ancient stories that usually explain the origins of historical or natural phenomena.
Renaissance
A period in European culture from the 14th to the 16th centuries in which the visual arts flourished with advances in the treatment of anatomy and the use of perspective. It is particularly associated with Italy, where it began, though the term applies elsewhere. It is noted for a revival of interest in the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome.