The Birth of Venus - Essay Example

The Birth of Venus Number October 9, Faculty The Birth of Venus There are various ways in which Botticelli stroke a balance between idealism and naturalism in the ‘Birth of Venus’ as told by Gombrich. The balance between the two concepts is achieved through the descriptions that Botticelli gave about the events that surrounded the birth of Venus. Botticelli technically upholds naturalism by describing how Venus emerged from a shell, and how she was driven to the shore amidst a shower of roses.

Venus is described as being received with a purple cloak as she steps on the land. The beauty that Botticelli assigns to Venus sounds quite natural. These aspects depict naturalism. On the other hand, the flying wind-gods, the unnatural length of Venus neck and her steep fall of the shoulders are elements of idealism. Gombrich observes that these features form a perfect harmonious pattern. The painting reflects and represents the attitudes toward classical knowledge culture in that it does not only represent the conveyance of the meaning of a sacred story.

The painting too avoided the mere aspect of displaying a gay of luxury and wealth. The Renaissance was an effort to capture the former glory of Rome. The painting, therefore, depicts the aspects of the classical knowledge and culture in that it represents the classical mythology that the highly admired Romans and Greeks were more than mere pretty fairy-tales and gay. Botticellis transition to religious paintings reflects the story of the renaissance in that the religious paintings were meant to bring into existence the former glory of Rome and the Italians through art.

The superiority of the wisdom of the ancients was depicted in the transition. References Padva, G., & Buchweitz, N. (2014). Sensational pleasures in cinema, literature and visual culture. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.