Many Medieval artworks depict Christian themes since art focused almost exclusively on religious subjects before the arrival of the Renaissance. In the early stages of the Renaissance, humanists, scholars, writers, artists, and thinkers were exposed to many new ideas and started questioning, challenging, and investigating well-established narratives in their work. One of the most enigmatic and fascinating early Renaissance paintings is Sandro Botticelli’s Mystic Nativity, which is also one of my favorite paintings of that period. Today, we will consider what makes this artwork so special and what events in Botticelli’s background may have influenced his choices for this painting:
Do you like religious art? What do you think about Botticelli’s work? And how many paintings do you think perished forever in the Bonfires of Vanity?
Lauren Strock 