Divine Comedy Illustrated by Botticelli: Difference between revisions
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The exact date of creation of the drawings is unknown but it is surmised that Botticelli started his work around the mid-1480s and finished them approximmately a decade later.<ref name="jstor"/> Botticelli never completed the task. Many of the illustrations are not completely penciled-in and illumination is completed for only four of them. However, the drawings are of such artistry and beauty, that are considered "central to Botticelli's artistic achievement" and no less important than the [[Primavera (painting)|Primavera]].<ref name="jstor"/> |
The exact date of creation of the drawings is unknown but it is surmised that Botticelli started his work around the mid-1480s and finished them approximmately a decade later.<ref name="jstor"/> Botticelli never completed the task. Many of the illustrations are not completely penciled-in and illumination is completed for only four of them. However, the drawings are of such artistry and beauty, that are considered "central to Botticelli's artistic achievement" and no less important than the [[Primavera (painting)|Primavera]].<ref name="jstor"/> |
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The drawings commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici were not the first to be created by Botticelli for a Divine Comedy manuscript. In all likelihood, he also illustrated another ''Commedia'' in Florence, Italy that was published by Nicholo di Lorenzo della Magna in 1481. Although the drawings of this earlier edition are credited to [[Baccio Baldini]], it is now thought that due to Baldini's lack of artistic vision, and his total dependence on Botticelli as a source for his designs, the drawings for the Florence ''Commedia'' are also considered to be Botticelli's work.<ref name="jstor"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 16:21, 21 January 2017
| Divine Comedy illustrated by Botticelli | |
|---|---|
 The Map of Hell painting by Botticelli is one of the ninety-two drawings that were originally included in the illustrated manuscript of Dante's Divine Comedy commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici. | |
| Artist | Sandro Botticelli |
| Year | c. 1485[1] |
The Divine Comedy illustrated by Botticelli is a manuscript illustrated by ninety-two drawings by Sandro Botticelli that are considered masterpieces and amongst the best works of the Rennaisance master painter.[1][2] The drawings were discovered in late 19th century and were initially included as illustrations of a manuscript of Dante's Divine Comedy.[1]
Scope and origin
Botticelli's drawings were commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici. The drawings were intended to illustrate a manuscript of Dante's Divine Comedy in a unique way. The entire thematic sequence of each canto was supposed to be illustrated by its own full-page drawing by Botticelli. Further, there would be a minimum of two additional drawings, a map of Hell preceding Inferno, and a double-page drawing of Lucifer that depicts Dante's and Virgil's descent to Hell.[1]
The exact date of creation of the drawings is unknown but it is surmised that Botticelli started his work around the mid-1480s and finished them approximmately a decade later.[1] Botticelli never completed the task. Many of the illustrations are not completely penciled-in and illumination is completed for only four of them. However, the drawings are of such artistry and beauty, that are considered "central to Botticelli's artistic achievement" and no less important than the Primavera.[1]
The drawings commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici were not the first to be created by Botticelli for a Divine Comedy manuscript. In all likelihood, he also illustrated another Commedia in Florence, Italy that was published by Nicholo di Lorenzo della Magna in 1481. Although the drawings of this earlier edition are credited to Baccio Baldini, it is now thought that due to Baldini's lack of artistic vision, and his total dependence on Botticelli as a source for his designs, the drawings for the Florence Commedia are also considered to be Botticelli's work.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Watts, Barbara J. (1995). "Sandro Botticelli's Drawings for Dante's "Inferno": Narrative Structure, Topography, and Manuscript Design". Artibus et Historiae. 16 (32): 163–201.
- ^ LIPPMANN, F. DRAWINGS BY SANDRO BOTTICELLI FOR DANTE'S DIVINA COMMEDIA (PDF). LAWRENCE AND BULLEN LONDON. pp. 26–40.