Sandro Botticelli, a painter of Quattrocento

Sandro Botticelli was his stage name, but his real one was Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi. At the beginning, the name of Botticelli was his older brother’s nickname, called Giovanni and it means little barrel; in spite of that, the nickname was extended to the rest of his family. Sandro was born into a humble family towards 1444-1445 in Florence, and passed away in the same city May 17th, 1510. He started to work as goldsmith, but fortunately at the age of seventeen he changed his mind and he got into Fra Filippo Lippi Art Studio. Sandro stayed there for five years and it was there where he acquired teachings of Quattrocento school, what it belongs to the Italian Renaissance.
I really love the work of Sandro Botticelli. For me he is a wonderful painter, however I must confess I don’t know much about art. In particular I like these paintings which are very famous and they represent mythological scenes. As you may know, the first picture is SPRING and the second one is THE BIRTH OF VENUS.
In Spring painting we can watch Flora goddess, who is spring herald and the picture is named for her. As well on the picture appear Mercury, in the left side, The three Graces, Cupid on the top, Venus, in the middle, and lastly Céfiro, wind’s god, and Chloris nymph. This painting was an order by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco di Medici, one member of prestigious Medici family.

It is said that The Birth of Venus painting was an order of one member of Medici family too. This picture represents Venus’ arrival to the Citera Island. She is being pushed by Céfiro and Aurea, goddess of breeze, and both characters are linked by an embrace. In the earthly side, on the right, we find spring goddess, and we know that because she is wearing a cloak decorated with flower motifs. Spring goddess is waiting for Venus goddess to wrap her up warm.
In addition to aesthetics, what I’m into is what these two paintings say according to experts on Art, because each character has their own interpretation both whole painting and individually. Maybe you much prefer other paintings or other painters but after all there is no accounting for taste.

Wall of Lugo, 18 centuries of history

The Roman Lugo Walls are considered the unique example of military Roman fortification by UNESCO. In fact, this fortification dates from the 3rd century and it’s extraordinary that it arrives up to the present day preserving whole his perimeter. The Lugo’s Wall was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2000 and also, it is twinned with the Great Wall of China since 2007.
The fortification was built in order to protect the city of Lucus Augusti (Lugo)from the Barbarian threat, and the wall is a part of a defensive set which consists of moat, wall and intervallum. The fortress shuts up a 34.4 hectares area and a perimeter of 2,120 metres approximately. His average thickness is 4.20 metres and the wall is between 8-12 metres high. The name of Lucus Augusti comes from one part, from Celtic god called Lugh, and then Romans adapted it into his language, and the other part, in honour of the César Augusto Emperor. Many authors keep discussing about his possible origin in a military camp. That is the explanation most accepted, actually. Lugo’s people state that the origin sites in an old Celtic “castro” (pre Roman military fortification), and when the Romans arrived it was transformed. From some funerary finds, it seems that at the beginning Lugo was a Celtic sanctuary of the god Lugh. After being conquered by the Romans, the city was called Lucus Augusti.
Far from being a problem, the wall’s structure is completely integrated into the whole urban group. Furthermore it has become a point of interest of the city, which its citizens are very proud of.
So if you are encouraged to know this ancient city, don’t miss out on the cathedral, the Thermal Baths, Roman Bridge, Church of San Pedro, Church of Santiago a Nova, and of course, the Roman Lugo Walls.