Florence, 1445 – 1510

Master of
Beauty, Myth
& Devotion

Explore the life, genius and enduring legacy of the greatest painter of the Florentine Renaissance.

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90+Surviving Works
65Years of Life
1445Year of Birth
∞Cultural Impact
Portrait attributed to Botticelli

Adoration of the Magi (detail — Botticelli's self-portrait) c.1475 · Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Biography

The Poet of the Medici Court

Born: Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, Florence, c.1445

Died: Florence, 17 May 1510

Born in Florence, Alessandro Filipepi — known to history as Botticelli — rose from a tanner's son to become the most celebrated painter in Europe, a favourite of Lorenzo de' Medici and the Papacy alike.

His unique synthesis of classical mythology, Christian devotion and lyrical beauty produced works of unparalleled grace. The Birth of Venus and Primavera remain among the most recognisable paintings ever created.

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Masterworks

The Essential
Paintings

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The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus
c.1484–1486 · Uffizi Gallery, Florence
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Primavera
Primavera
c.1477–1482
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Primavera
Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Magi
c.1475
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Adoration of the Magi
Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars
c.1483 · National Gallery, London
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Venus and Mars
The Annunciation
The Annunciation
1489–1490 · Uffizi Gallery
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The Annunciation

AI Experience

Ask
Botticelli
Anything

Powered by advanced AI trained on Botticelli's life, letters, contemporaries and known works — speak directly with the Master of Florence.

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Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli
Available to speak
What inspired the Birth of Venus?
It was Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici who commissioned it — a young man of great refinement. The subject came from the verse of Angelo Poliziano, whose Stanze brought Venus rising from the sea into the language of Florence once more...
Did you know it would become so famous?
Famous? I knew only that I had painted something true. Whether posterity would care — that was God's business, not mine.

AI persona powered by Claude · For educational and entertainment purposes

Print Shop

Own a Piece of the Renaissance

Museum-quality prints of Botticelli's greatest works, available in a range of sizes and finishes — from fine art giclée to hand-stretched canvas.

  • Fine art giclée prints from £29
  • Hand-stretched canvas reproductions
  • Framed editions with passepartout mounting
  • Worldwide delivery · 30-day returns
Browse All Prints
The Birth of VenusFrom £29
PrimaveraFrom £29
Venus and MarsFrom £29
Adoration of the MagiFrom £29
"The task of the artist is to feel the divine in the visible world, and through line and colour to make others see what he has seen."
— Giorgio Vasari on Botticelli, Lives of the Artists, 1550

For Educators

Teaching Botticelli in the Classroom

Professionally crafted lesson plans, student worksheets and technique guides — ready to use at every level.

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Renaissance Lesson Pack

6 fully planned lessons covering Botticelli's life, works, patrons and techniques. Includes discussion questions and assessment tasks.

£12 · Instant Download
🎨

Botticelli Technique Guide

A deep-dive into tempera painting, gold-ground preparation, line, drapery and the classical figure for practising artists.

£7 · Instant Download
🖼️

Colouring Pages — Venus & More

High-quality line drawings of 8 major works for classroom colouring activities. Perfect for KS2–KS4 art lessons.

£3 · Instant Download

From the Journal

What Would Botticelli Think Today?

Exhibition

The Uffizi's New Botticelli Room: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

The gallery has rehung its entire Botticelli collection for the first time in 30 years.

March 2025

Analysis

Why Venus Has No Navel: The Hidden Theology in Botticelli's Greatest Work

A close reading of the Neoplatonic ideas encoded in the Birth of Venus.

February 2025

Speculation

Would Botticelli Have Been an Instagram Artist? We Asked the AI.

We put the question to our AI Botticelli and his answer was more revealing than expected.

January 2025

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