Fortitude (Botticelli)
Fortitude | |
---|---|
Artist | Sandro Botticelli |
Year | 1470 |
Medium | Tempera on panel |
Dimensions | 167 cm × 87 cm (66 in × 34 in) |
Location | Uffizi, Florence |
Fortitude (Italian: Fortezza) is a painting by the Italian
This work originally belonged to a set of seven panels representing
The 1.67 x 0.87–meter painting was produced with tempera paint on a wood panel. Tempera paint consists in mixing the dry powdered colors with yolk of egg, slightly thinned with acetic acid or water, instead of mixing the colors with oil or varnish as in the case of oil painting.[2] The colors thus mixed are usually laid on a priming of gesso, though other grounds may be used.[3]
The woman represented in Fortitude could be Lucrezia Donati.[4][5]
Composition
Upon first glance, the eye is pulled to the most illuminated point of the painting: the face of Fortitude. Her gaze is turned down and away from the observer and because of this, her expression is perceived as passive and uninterested. This was a characteristic feature of Botticelli's female figures.
The most striking color in the work is obviously Fortitude's red robe, which is so elegantly draped off one shoulder and laid across her lap. Tempera paint is incapable of producing the hard and cutting edges that occur in oil painting, and this because of a very remarkable property, namely, the comparative transparency of even opaque colors when mixed with yolk of egg.[7] Thus, in some cases, one may find a robe painted in the following manner.[8] The color red, most associated with the extremes of emotion; passionate love, anger, rage, and violence can be symbolic of the strength that we must have when overcoming hardship. The contrast of the soft, flowing folds in her clothing to the harshness in her metallic armor creates an interesting play on themes of masculinity versus femininity. She appears to be regal and delicate while also maintaining vigor and bravery. Strength is not a quality subjective to sex.
The linear perspective of the painting also adds to the regal impression of Fortitude. Having her centered, pushed forward to the picture plane, and sharply lit focuses the viewer solely on the virtue she represents. In early Italy, Fortuna was the name of the goddess who controlled the destiny of every human being.[9] Fortuna was originally “she who brings,” the goddess who permitted the fertilization of humans, animals, and plants; thus was she worshiped by women desiring pregnancy, and the gardeners seeking bumper crops.[10] Though Fortitude's overall complexion is virtually perfect, there is one element of her face that conveys some sort of hardship. This is the discoloration that rests under her eyes. This slight bluish tint transmits a message to the observer that Fortitude has seen misfortune. It adds an element of humanism that is relatable to any passerby that sets their gaze upon this Botticelli piece.
Meaning
To a fifteenth-century audience, the Seven Heavenly Virtues represented a combination of philosophical and religious influences. According to
History
The cycle was for the Tribunal Hall of Piazza della Signoria in Florence.[17] The Tribunale di Mercanzia was the body that decided on the business disputes between Florentine merchants and administered justice among the guilds, known as Arts.[18] Later, these panels would be moved to the Uffizi, when the wealth and heritage of the Renaissance judiciary were absorbed by the Chamber of Commerce in 1777. At the time of their commission in the fifteenth century, the Mercanzia was of prime importance in Florence's economic life. This made the commission extremely prestigious, and the job was sought by many painters. Pollaiolo's understandable protests to Botticelli's involvement, contributed to limiting Botticelli's participation in the commission to this single figure.[19] Botticelli could count on the help of Tommaso Soderini, one of the Mercanzia commissioners, and because of his intrusion, the painters’ guild amended their statutes to protect its members from other outside interference.[20] Soderini was one of the most prominent members historically of an influential Florentine patrician family and was elected as gonfalonier for life in 1502.
Rest of the set
Piero del Pollaiuolo's six paintings, all also now in the Uffizi, were:
See also
- List of works by Sandro Botticelli
Notes
- ^ "Fortitude," Le Gallerie degli Uffizi
- ^ Fry, “Tempera Painting,” 175.
- ^ Fry, “Tempera Painting,” 175.
- ISBN 9780857200167.
- ^ Soares, Átila (June 25, 2014). "Teria Sido Uma Quase Noviça, amante de Leonardo da Vinci?". Fanfulla (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ "Fortitude," Le Gallerie degli Uffizi.
- ^ Fry, “Tempera Painting,” 175.
- ^ Fry, “Tempera Painting,” 175.
- ^ Monaghan, The Book of Goddesses and Heroines, 110.
- ^ Monaghan, The Book of Goddesses and Heroines, 110.
- ^ Davidson, "The Celestial Virtues," 156.
- ^ “Allegory,” Grove Art Online.
- ^ Stapleford, “Vasari and Botticelli,” 400.
- ^ “Allegory,” Grove Art Online.
- ^ “Allegory,” Grove Art Online.
- ^ “Fortitude,” Le Gallerie degli Uffizi.
- ^ "Fortitude," Le Gallerie degli Uffizi.
- ^ "Fortitude," Le Gallerie degli Uffizi.
- ^ "Fortitude," Le Gallerie degli Uffizi.
- ^ Lugli, “Metamorphic Heads: A Footnote on Botticelli's and Pollaiuolo's Mercanzia Virtues,” 28.
References
"Allegory." Oxford Art Online: Grove Art Online. (2003). http://www.oxfordartonline.com/
"Fortitude," Le Gallerie degli Uffizi. https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/fortitude.
Davidson, Gustav. "The Celestial Virtues." Prairie Schooner 44 (2) (1970): 155 -162.
Fry, Roger E. "Tempera Painting." The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs 7 (27) (1905): 175–176.
Lugli, Eemanuel. Metamorphic Heads: A Footnote on Botticelli's and Pollaiuolo's Mercanzia Virtues. Vol. 37 (2017).
Monaghan, Patricia. "Fortuna." In The Book of Goddesses and Heroines, 110. New York, New York: Elsevier-Dutton, 1981.
Stapleford, Richard. "Vasari and Botticelli." Mitteilungen Des Kunsthistorischen Institutes in Florenz 39 (2) (1995): 397–408.