Botticelli's Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance

Sandro Botticelli was commissioned by a member of the Medici family to illustrate all 100 cantos of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. His illustrations were never finished, but the nineteenth-century rediscovery of them brought scholars to their knees and today, Botticelli's Primavera adorns household objects. This book explains why Botticelli became iconic and why we still need his work and the spirit of the Renaissance today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2022
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Sandro Botticelli, a humble painter of the 15th century, created a remarkable body of work that transcends time and space. Hailing from a modest background, Botticelli forged a close association with the unofficial rulers of Florence, the Medici family. Commissioned by a member of this esteemed family, he embarked on an extraordinary project: to illustrate all 100 cantos of Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, the pinnacle of Italian literature. This collaboration between a poet and an artist resulted in a series of stunning drawings that captured the essence of both sacred and secular realms, blending earthly and ethereal elements. Despite the immense beauty and artistic prowess of these drawings, they remained unfinished, a testament to Botticelli's untimely demise. Over the centuries, Botticelli's illustrations disappeared into obscurity, lost to the world. However, in the 19th century, a remarkable rediscovery breathed new life into his legacy. Scholars and art enthusiasts alike were astounded by the sheer brilliance of Botticelli's Dante drawings, which symbolized everything the Renaissance had come to represent. Today, his iconic painting, Primavera, adorns household objects of all kinds, serving as a testament to his enduring influence. This book is a vital exploration of Botticelli's life and work, shedding light on the reasons behind his iconic status and the continued relevance of his art and the spirit of the Renaissance in our modern world.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 148 x 225 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781324004011