The Birth of Venus

About The Birth of Venus

Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, painted around 1485, shows the goddess arriving at the shore on a shell. Wind carries flowers across the scene, while a figure on the right offers a patterned cloak. The Uffizi explains that the image represents Venus coming ashore rather than the literal moment of her birth. Flowing hair and fabric give the composition its distinctive rhythm.

Look closely

Follow the wind from the figures on the left through the roses and Venus's hair to the cloak on the right. Notice the emphasis on line over deep space.

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