Fascinating stuff-- wasn't aware of the "peer review" committee that decided on the placement. What a remarkable period when not only was there Michelangelo to create the statue, but a Hall of Fame of artists available to decide on a suitable place for it. Great post!
Thank you! I know...amazing, really. Other noted artists were on the panel, including Giuliano da Sangallo. (I couldn't name them all:) I would love to know what they said among themselves. Botticelli loved making snarky comments about Leonardo. And Michelangelo was not an easy personality. I see a lot of hair-tearing.
Did you know your angel logo represents Sandro Botticelli? So which of the Three Graces is his fiery arrow directed at? It’s said he had a soft spot for Simonetta Vespucci, but alas, she was already married. Botticelli requested he be buried close to Simonetta’s tomb.
Hi, Bernard. Yes, I did. From Primavera/Spring. Have you noticed the middle Grace is looking over at the youth on the left side of the painting? That is Giuliano de' Medici, another of Simonetta's admirers. She was married to his kinsman, Marco Vespucci, who is my main character, Guid'Antonio Vespucci's, kinsman, as well. I love all these stories, the connections, the behind-the-scenes details. Both Simonetta and Sandro are buried in Ognissanti, All Saints' Church, in Borg'Ognissanti in Florence. Thank you for your comment, and happy reading.
The same three women are portrayed in Botticelli’s Birth of Venus (Simonetta Vespucci).
Simonetta is also the lady featured in Botticelli’s Venus and Mars (portrayed as Leonardo da Vinci). Botticelli portrays himself as the satyr tucked inside the barrel-shaped cuirass in the bottom right corner of the painting, his name meaning “little barrel”.
Another fascinating post, Alana. I love the pondering over how to transport the statue and then the description of the manual move. Nice subheads, too! Can't wait to read Book Three!
Thank you! I actually shortened Luca Landucci’s diary entry. Can you imagine what interest that stirred up in the streets? And how that would go today?
Yes, he must have been there to supervise. His Baby, after all. I enjoyed the article you provided the link for. I didn't know about those statues of the apostles. Thanks for this. So interesting.
Wonderful post, Alana, and such amazing pictures! We tend to think of these great artists individually, so it's fascinating to see that they lived in the same places, at the same times, and to get an idea of their relative ages and how and in what contexts they interacted. I find the same thing with medieval and early Renaissance composers. It can be interesting to try to trace their influences on each other and how their careers intersected.
That is so true, Tinney. I remember one agent who turned down “Weeping Virgin,” saying “It’s just too far-fetched that all these famous people were there at the same time.” Ah, well, that is why it is called the Italian Renaissance. 🌻📚
Fascinating stuff-- wasn't aware of the "peer review" committee that decided on the placement. What a remarkable period when not only was there Michelangelo to create the statue, but a Hall of Fame of artists available to decide on a suitable place for it. Great post!
Thank you! I know...amazing, really. Other noted artists were on the panel, including Giuliano da Sangallo. (I couldn't name them all:) I would love to know what they said among themselves. Botticelli loved making snarky comments about Leonardo. And Michelangelo was not an easy personality. I see a lot of hair-tearing.
Did you know your angel logo represents Sandro Botticelli? So which of the Three Graces is his fiery arrow directed at? It’s said he had a soft spot for Simonetta Vespucci, but alas, she was already married. Botticelli requested he be buried close to Simonetta’s tomb.
Hi, Bernard. Yes, I did. From Primavera/Spring. Have you noticed the middle Grace is looking over at the youth on the left side of the painting? That is Giuliano de' Medici, another of Simonetta's admirers. She was married to his kinsman, Marco Vespucci, who is my main character, Guid'Antonio Vespucci's, kinsman, as well. I love all these stories, the connections, the behind-the-scenes details. Both Simonetta and Sandro are buried in Ognissanti, All Saints' Church, in Borg'Ognissanti in Florence. Thank you for your comment, and happy reading.
The same three women are portrayed in Botticelli’s Birth of Venus (Simonetta Vespucci).
Simonetta is also the lady featured in Botticelli’s Venus and Mars (portrayed as Leonardo da Vinci). Botticelli portrays himself as the satyr tucked inside the barrel-shaped cuirass in the bottom right corner of the painting, his name meaning “little barrel”.
Interesting, indeed.
Another fascinating post, Alana. I love the pondering over how to transport the statue and then the description of the manual move. Nice subheads, too! Can't wait to read Book Three!
Thank you! I actually shortened Luca Landucci’s diary entry. Can you imagine what interest that stirred up in the streets? And how that would go today?
I'd love to know where Michelangelo was during the move. Did he go along? Or did he stay home and pray? (I think that's what I would have done!)
I think he would have been there! The Cathedral archives have records of their meetings--I'm sure it got heated. They were all such rivals and high-strung, ha. This is a link to the Duomo/Cathedral magazine. It is fascinating to read...This was one of my resources for this substack. https://duomo.firenze.it/en/opera-magazine/post/5145/michelangelo-and-the-cathedral-of-florence-from-david-to-the-pieta-to-the-dome
Yes, he must have been there to supervise. His Baby, after all. I enjoyed the article you provided the link for. I didn't know about those statues of the apostles. Thanks for this. So interesting.
There is so much to know, right? I love the Duomo Magazine. You could get lost in it forever. Makes me want to be there NOW.
Wonderful post, Alana, and such amazing pictures! We tend to think of these great artists individually, so it's fascinating to see that they lived in the same places, at the same times, and to get an idea of their relative ages and how and in what contexts they interacted. I find the same thing with medieval and early Renaissance composers. It can be interesting to try to trace their influences on each other and how their careers intersected.
That is so true, Tinney. I remember one agent who turned down “Weeping Virgin,” saying “It’s just too far-fetched that all these famous people were there at the same time.” Ah, well, that is why it is called the Italian Renaissance. 🌻📚
Whoa - an agent actually said that?!? I think you dodged a bullet by not signing with that one!
Yes. I know. I heard from a friend the other day whose manuscript—set at Woodstock—was rejected by an agent who said she didn’t like music.