http://www.essentialart.com/mh/Botticelli_Mars_and_Venus.jpg
Monday, April 13, 2009
Botticelli: The Man, the Myth, the Legend
Not much is known about Sandro Botticelli and his life. Even some of his works cannot absolutely be contributed to him. In fact, much of what is known about his life is no more than alleged incidents. However, from his paintings and some incidents of his life, Botticelli can be described as a passionate man who loved new ideas and was sophisticated and intelligent enough to understand them, and a humorous wit.
Sandro Botticelli was born Alessandro di Mariano dei Filipepi in Florence to Mariano Filipepi in the year 1444. As his parents were 40 and 50 years old, he suffered from health problems during his childhood and throughout his entire life. The name "Il Botticello" meant "Little Barrel" and was probably a nickname for his older brother who was reportedly very obese. By the time of Botticelli’s death in 1510, this nickname had become the family surname.
After being apprenticed to Fra Filippo Lippi from 1458 to 1467, Botticelli met the Medici family and became a very close member of their circle of friends. In his Adoration of the Magi, Botticelli painted the Medici around the Holy family, surrounded by their closest friends and allies. Interestingly, this painting also contains the only suggested self-portrait of Botticelli, establishing himself as one of their friends.
While with the Medici, Botticelli met Simonetta, the great beauty who was to be is muse. It is commonly suggested that she served as a model for nearly all Botticelli’s later works, even though she died in 1976 at the age of 22. In all probability, Simonetta and Botticelli were never lovers, but Botticelli probably felt their friendship embodied the concept of Platonic love, in which the relationship between God and man is replicated between two people.
After the death of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco in 1492, Botticelli became a follower of the religious zealot, Girolamo Savonarola, who preached that the “Sword of God” was coming across the mountain to punish the sinners. Botticelli allegedly was so caught up in this movement that he burned some of his own paintings because he was afraid for his soul. His later paintings, including the Calumny of Apelles and the Lamentation Over the Dead Christ reflect the apocalyptic theme of Savonarola’s sermons.
Both of these periods in Botticelli’s art demonstrate that Botticelli loved new ideas and philosophies and illustrate the passion with which he pursued these new ideas. If the allegations that Botticelli painted Simonetta are true, than he must have believed she was the ideal woman and that their relationship resembled that between Man and God. He always painted her Venus, the Goddess of Love, or the Madonna, so it is apparent that he admire her.
From other paintings, one can discern Botticelli’s humor and wit. In Mars and Venus, Venus is shown alert and awake while Mars is asleep and nude. Four Satyrs play with his weapons and armor, showing their mischievous nature. Botticelli’s depiction of an exhausted Mars (after a romantic encounter with Venus) can be seen as a humorous commentary on Women’s triumph over sex and how it makes men unaware and somewhat useless.
Scholars do not know much about Botticelli, including why he painted the way he did or what his inspirations were. However, it seems as though he was passionate and insightful man with a clever wit. With the lack of documentation and written evidence, this might be all that can be guessed about him.
Response Questions:
1. Is there anything in my presentation that you would like me to explain further? (everyone do this question please.)
2. Dissect the Primavera and describe what it means in your opinion. Use your own knowledge about the Mythological figures or pictoral cues as evidence to explain your answer.
3. Botticelli reportedly painted only one self-portrait. Why do you think he chose to include his likeness in the Adoration of the Magi with the Medici rather than another painting?
4. Write a narrative about what is happening in Mars and Venus.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Responce: The Face of Criminality
Jared, I thought you made a very thorough presentation. I cannot recall any moment when you were unclear. You did a very good job.
The mug shot is a significant part of the criminal justice system and popular culture. One can search for these simple pictures on Google or in databases and they are so popular that there are television shows that count down the top celebrity mug shots. A booking shot does not mean the defendant is guilty; just that they have been arrested and booked at the police station. However, one problem with the wide availability of booking photos is that people often make up their mind about the guilt or innocence of the accused from viewing their mug shot alone. I do not believe it is possible to discern guilt or innocence from a mug shot, but many people try to do this subconsciously.
From a mug shot, the viewer can read many different emotions on the accused person’s face. Because these photos are taken when the person reaches the booking station, they are not able to collect themselves or prepare, so whatever they are feeling is often obvious. Sorrow, confusion, fear and embarrassment can be read on many faces as they are caught off guard. But, these pictures can be misleading because of the situation in which the subjects find themselves. Many of these emotions can be a direct result from being arrested and the possibility of facing charges rather than guilt from committing a crime. Sorrow, anger and confusion are all common emotions after someone is arrested. Fear is also very common; not the fear of being caught, but the fear of not knowing what is going to happen. For this reason, it is very difficult to decide that a person is guilty or innocent simply by looking at their mug shot.
However, one mug shot trait is a dead give-away that a crime has been committed. Often, when a person looks like they are drunk, they are most likely drunk. Mug shots of people accused of driving under the influence, being drunk and disorderly and similar charges are plastered all over the internet. This includes those of celebrities. Some signs of drunkenness are smeared makeup, messed-up hair and a dazed look as if they do not really understand what is happening. This also applies to people in strange outfits (like the naked man wearing silver body paint) and often, to people who appear naked. One can almost always guess whether that a person is guilty of a crime from a mug shot with these characteristics.
It is impossible to know if a person is guilty or innocent from looking at their mug shot unless they appear to be very drunk, and a mug shot does not imply guilt or even that a crime has taken place. However, this does not stop people from speculating on the guilt or innocence of the person in the photograph. This can be damaging because this kind of speculation can sway the jury one way or another if they are exposed to the pictures through the media. But, mug shots are an important way of keeping a record of people who have been arrested in case they ever commit another crime, so people will continue to speculate about them until society finds a better way.
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