Neoplatonism In The Renaissance

The Renaissance was a period of "rebirth" that started in Europe following the Middle Ages. This time-period was characterized by an escalation in the interest of classical themes and the representation of human potential or humanism. The surge of classics can be seen in the art of the time, which often depicted both Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. The new artistic conventions were significantly distinct from those of the Middle Ages, which frequently depicted human figures as flat and without a background, and death was a common theme due to the bubonic plague. However, religion continued to be an important theme in art, and philosophers and artists tried to combine the ideas of Plato with Christian ideals, this practice is referred to as Neoplatonism. Furthermore, there was a rise in the interest of the arts, and many wealthy families served as patrons of the arts. One of the most prominent artists of the time, Sandro Botticelli was commissioned by the Medici …show more content…
The artwork of the time often attempted to combine the classics with Christian themes, this is the concept of Neoplatonism. Sandro Botticelli created a Neoplatonic piece, La Primavera which told the story of the coming of spring and featured several Roman gods and goddesses including, Venus, who represented the humanities. The content of the piece represents the fundamental humanist ideas and themes of the Renaissance. Botticelli was a talented artist as evidenced by the attention to detail and the wise use of perspective, colors, and foregrounds to emphasize the most important aspects of the piece. Although the true meaning of La Primavera is unknown, there is an accepted allegorical meaning behind it which attracts thousands of viewers who are eager to see the epitome of the Renaissance in a single piece of