The studio and the artist, the interactive collaboration of Sandro Botticelli
Botticelli, from A to Z
The new exhibition of the Musée Jacquemart-André (Paris) is transforming our relation to the oeuvre of Sandro Botticelli (circa 1445 - 1510) and his studio, while showcasing his influence and how he influence others.
To do so, more than forty works of the Italian painter, travel the globe to make this incredible exhibition happened. From the famous portrait of La Belle Simonetta of the Städel Museum (Germany) to the small, but attractive masterpiece of the Rijksmuseum (Netherlands), Judith with the Head of Holofernes. But, with all of those loans, do you think we know him well ?
Not enough, at least for the Musée Jacquemart-André and the two curators, Ana Debenedetti and Pierre Curie. Both of them thought about the relation Botticelli, and more widely the artist from the Italian renaissance had with their scholars and their studio in Florence. Therefore, the show, made chronologically and thematically will help to encompass this subject while showcasing works attributed to Botticelli or to Botticelli and his studio.
The exhibition his also well constructed around the works he made in Florence, due to the Medici family, but also around The birth of Venus, and the more religious and everyday scene he depicted. While showcasing his serial and unique approach to his oeuvre.
In the step of Filippo Lippi & Andrea del Verrocchio
The story of Judith
But, to understand this practice, you need to be in the mind of an artist in the 15th century. Any work that comes out of the studio is the result of a collaborative effort, but is nonetheless a work “by Botticelli”, because it is designed according to his drawing and bears his trademark.
Botticelli and the Medici
Botticelli had some difficult years as a standalone artist, with his studio, his scholars and his oeuvre. But, at the beginning of the 1470-1475, his beginning to have a name in the very competitive artistic scene of Florence.
Therefore, his style and his compositions will win him the favor of the Medici, one if not the most wealthy family of bankers of Florence and Italy. Thus, they will give a lot of freedom to Botticelli when they will send him a commission, mostly portraits.
Nonetheless, this wonderful portrait of Julien of Médici, also named “Giuliano de Medici” is depicting the younger brother of “Lorenzo de Medici”, also called "Laurent the Magnificent".
For the story, “Giuliano de Medici”, was at the heart of an attack during the Conspiracy of the Pazzi (1478), when they tried to remove Florence from the domination of the Medici Family. But, the plot failed and “Giuliano de Medici” escaped the attack, while the assassin was arrested. The Medici were saved.
Therefore, Botticelli was called by the Medici to create a portrait of Julien, as a hero and protector of the Medici Family and the city of Florence. Therefore, the seater his depicted in the walls of the Palazzo Vecchio.
But, it's not the last depiction of Julian, Botticelli will regularly come back to one of his favorite model to create two other versions (one during his lifetime and one just after his death).
The three versions are all of uncertain origin and the debate over the original painting and the copies is not unanimous among researchers and art critics because the painted surface is not in very good condition and does not allow a certain evaluation.
Informations about the exhibition
Place: Musée Jacquemart-André
Date: 10.9.2021 – 24.1.2022
Curators: Ana Debenedetti and Pierre Curie
Ticket: Available on the website of the Museum OR at the front desk of the museum
Informations about the Musée Jacquemart-André
Musée Jacquemart-André
Propriété de l'Institut de France
158 Boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris
Phone: +33 (0)1 45 62 11 59