This the painting that first brought Botticelli fame and
allowed him to begin building a name in the Florentine art
world. This allegorical painting is 1.75 m (69") high and
was painted to serve as a chair back in the Court of the
Mercanzia.
Botticelli received the commission for the foremost
virtue: Fortitude. When the Court was dissolved in 1771, the
work was transferred to the Academia; from there, it went to
the Uffizi, but was not exhibited until 1863.
This very early painting shows the influence
of both Pollaiolo in and Verocchio (the latter most
noticably in the way in which the cloth is painted). The
figure herself looks to me something like those painted by
his first teacher
Lippi.
Please contact the appropriate
person, webmaster or archive before reproducing these images.
Where no credit is given, the scan was done by me and is free
for use (but I would appreciate a link).
Thank-you.
