Class today began with concluding our investigation of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Compositionally, we remarked on Venus occupying much of the central space in the classic contrapposto pose, framed by darker elements to help her stand out. Little details like the gold highlighting, roses falling (the flower of Venus), and the blooming orange trees added context and complexity to the image. Additionally, the representation of a naked woman for beauty, not for a moral or erotic meaning, brought to the discussion Neoplatonic Philosophy. Derived from the philosopher Plato, it emphasized an idealized thinking without focusing too much on real-world issues or constraints.
This philosopher segued into discussing the fascinating contributions of Leonardo da Vinci. Born in 1452, he wasn’t just a painter but also an architect, engineer, and sculptor. His notebook contained many sketches of machines and anatomical drawings as he attempted to find the patterns and systems in life. His paintings included sfumato to unify the subjects and backgrounds and he pioneered the pyramidal composition to create dynamic but stable characters. The Last Supper shows off Leonardo’s mathematical thinking and The Mona Lisa employs the pyramid, sfumato, chiaroscuro, and an interesting lack of status symbols to create the iconic painting.