Throughout his lifetime, Botticelli was held in high esteem and enjoyed the patronage of the powerful Medici court, the ruling family of Florence. The Medici interests in Platonic philosophy and Classical themes provided an opportunity for Botticelli to explore mythological subjects as well as traditional religious themes. The artist's innovative interpretations of both religious and mythological subjects reflect a level of sophistication that far exceeded his peers.

One of Botticelli's most innovative contributions was depicting his subjects, whether religious or mythological, in the contemporary costume of the Florentine court. His famed Birth of Venus, defined by the... [View Full Biography]