Complete Works of Sandro Botticelli

Delphi Masters of Art #20

by Sandro Botticelli

Cherished for their linear grace, the divine and mythological masterpieces of Botticelli are the epitome of the golden age of Florentine art. Delphi’s Masters of Art Series presents the world’s first digital e-Art books, allowing digital readers to explore the works of great artists in comprehensive detail. This volume presents Botticelli’s complete works in beautiful detail, with concise introductions, hundreds of high quality images and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)

* The complete paintings of Botticelli — over 120 paintings, fully indexed and arranged in chronological and alphabetical order
* Includes reproductions of rare works
* Features a special ‘Highlights’ section, with concise introductions to the masterpieces, giving valuable contextual information
* Enlarged ‘Detail’ images, allowing you to explore Botticelli’s celebrated works in detail, as featured in traditional art books
* Hundreds of images in stunning colour – highly recommended for viewing on tablets and smart phones or as a valuable reference tool on more conventional eReaders
* Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the complete paintings
* Easily locate the paintings you want to view
* Includes Botticelli's drawings
* Features three bonus biographies, including Vasari’s original work - discover Botticelli's artistic life
* Scholarly ordering of plates into chronological order

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CONTENTS:

The Highlights
PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN
MADONNA OF THE ROSE GARDEN
PORTRAIT OF A MAN WITH A MEDAL OF COSIMO THE ELDER
PORTRAIT OF ESMERALDA BRANDINI
ST. SEBASTIAN
ADORATION OF THE MAGI
TEMPTATIONS OF CHRIST
MAGNIFICAT MADONNA
PRIMAVERA
MADONNA OF THE BOOK
VENUS AND MARS
PALLAS AND THE CENTAUR
PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN, 1484
THE BIRTH OF VENUS
MADONNA OF THE POMEGRANATE
CESTELLO ANNUNCIATION
CALUMNY OF APELLES
THE STORY OF VIRGINIA
THE MYSTICAL NATIVITY

The Paintings
THE COMPLETE PAINTINGS
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PAINTINGS

The Drawings
LIST OF DRAWINGS

The Biographies
LIFE OF SANDRO BOTTICELLI by Giorgio Vasari
BOTTICELLI by Henry Bryan Binns
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY: SANDRO BOTTICELLI by Sir Sidney Colvin

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Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History

540 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2015

About the author

As an Early Renaissance painter, Sandro Botticelli (born c. 1445, d. 17 May 1510) belonged to the Florentine school under the patronage of Lorenzo de' Medici. He is best known for his paintings, The Birth of Venus and Primavera, his graceful, ethereal drawings, and the first printed illustrations for Dante's Inferno.

Reviews

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided on seeing Sandro Botticelli works after reading his paintings mentioned in Marcel Proust's In Search for Lost Time, though I had him on my list of artists, this put him to the top of my list. Funny though, I had thought I had never seen Botticelli before but actually started seeing him in 1997 and quite often for about 17 years, his "Birth of Venus". You see I have been an exerciser almost all my life starting at 14 years old and during my various different forms, I found The Firm and did Anna Benson's Classic Exercising Video tapes quite often. Not until I saw this Delphi book did I noticed the quite familiar painting. I no longer do that kind of exercise but I do remember that Botticelli.

Botticelli has mostly religious and mythological themes, with many versions of Madonna and Child. I loved many of his female faces which in Proust describing Lady Swann as looking like one.



"Botticelli was born in Florence in a house in the Via Nuova, Borg’Ognissanti, to Mariano di Vanni d’Amedeo Filipepi. Vasari reports that he was initially trained as a goldsmith by his brother Antonio. Unfortunately, there are scarce confirmed details concerning Botticelli’s life, but it is known that he became an apprentice when he was approximately fourteen years old, indicating that he had received a more rounded education than other Renaissance artists."

"The Sistine Chapel, Rome — in 1481, Pope Sixtus IV summoned Botticelli to fresco the walls of the Sistine Chapel. "

"Depicting another popular subject in Renaissance art, The Adoration of the Magi dates from c. 1475 and is now housed in the Uffizi. Botticelli was commissioned to paint at least seven versions of the subject throughout his career, though this is generally considered to be his grandest version. It was commissioned by Gaspare di Zanobi del Lama, a banker of humble origins and dubious morality connected to the House of Medici, for his chapel in the church of Santa Maria Novella, which has since been destroyed. The scene depicts numerous real-life members of the Medici family, including Cosimo de’ Medici, as the Magus kneeling in front of the Virgin, described by Vasari as “the finest of all that are now extant for its life and vigour”, his sons Piero (the second Magus kneeling in the centre with the red mantle) and Giovanni (the third Magus) and his grandsons Giuliano and Lorenzo. The three Medici noblemen portrayed as Magi (the three wise men) were in fact all dead at the time the picture was painted, when Florence was effectively ruled by Lorenzo."


This edition has biographies included which at some point I might read, so I place it back into the "to read" shelf.


When I come across Botticelli's name or works, during my reads or other places, I will have a clear idea what that means. Funny, I came across it, the other day in Carola Oman's Somewhere in England.


I find it wonderful that so many paintings have survived the test of time, though many have been lost for many reasons. I find it important to keep these treasures. 💖

[Castles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always have a special place in my heart for Botticelli because back when I studied art, it was (if I remember right), one of the first artists to draw me in with “the birth of spring” the love of art that shaped my life.

Like all the books in this series, the first half is great, but the ending is just every royalty-free text about the subject they could throw in. Most of them outdated, but Vasari’s is of course mandatory.

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I skipped around reading different parts of this book, I thought that when I read similar passages that I had already read them. But then I realized that there were three versions of the life of Botticelli included in this book, each written at a different time and by different authors.

I would pick a certain painting of his and read about it thoroughly. I was particularly interested in "Primavera" and "The Birth of Venus" as I used them as companions in the Ufizi in Florence to be able to understand the paintings. For example, "Mercury" in Primavera is wearing a red cloak. I would not have known to look very closely to see the little flame motifs, painted in gold, that were scattered all over it without that detail mentioned in the book. Also, I was able to see little strands of actual gold paint in Venus' hair in "Birth," along with gold glints in her eyes. I felt like I must have been the only one to see those details unless the various tour guides had done a great job with their groups.

Botticelli got his nickname as a child - it means "little barrel" funny enough. The book also is a good companion to the Netflix show about the Medici, as Sondro Botticelli was a close friend with several of them.

[Robert Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of beautiful art

I recall studying art history in high school and being stunned at how gorgeous and moving art from the time of the renaissance was. Though I think Michelangelo and Leonardo are the most well known, it's a disservice for lovers of art to not get better acquainted with Botticelli. His art is beautifully expressive and his use of color combined with his unique interpretation of the human form is unforgettable. Delphi did a good job of putting this collection together, and think we're lucky in our day and age to have our own digital art museum for a few dollars.

[Shrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Botticelli is one of my favourite artists.
his model, Simonetta Vispucci, his style all is perfect.
The book mentioned only some paintings and little descriptions about each one but It lacks many informations.
The benefit of book is that it mentioned his all paintings finally.

[David Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small introductions introduce nineteen different works by Botticelli. Then a picture of the work and then detail pictures pointing out different aspects. The end of the book includes three biographies of Botticello, one by Vasari long ago. Then there are pics of the complete paintings and drawings.

[Gordon Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction

For the price thus cannot be beaten even if it is only for the pictures of all of Botticelli's works. Informative text with a couple of brief biographies. Excellent.

[vit ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

não gostei do jeito que foi editado esse livro mas como eu amo pra caralho o botticelli foi 4 estrelas

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent accompaniment to refer to while at a Botticelli exhibition in SF.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great compendium of all the artist’s work with information on his most known pieces. Didn’t read all the information, only some but absorbed all the images.

[Lou Robertella · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Botticelli is here!

All his works,in great color and detail. Well researched, anecdotes, worth reading for lovers of the arts. Well done book.