| The visage of a ravishing, young woman appears | | | | patrons. Giuliano de' Medici was the younger |
| again and again in the art of Sandro Botticelli, Early | | | | brother of Lorenzo de' Medici, a wealthy aristocrat |
| Italian Renaissance painter. It is a face that is | | | | who was referred to by his admirers as "Il |
| almost as familiar to art lovers all over the world | | | | Magnifico" or Lorenzo the Magnificent for his |
| as that of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Botticelli's | | | | generosity and lavish lifestyle. |
| model for his most famous art work, The Birth | | | | Simonetta, "the unparalleled one," personified ideal |
| of Venus, was the beautiful Simonetta Vespucci. | | | | beauty. |
| Once nominated "The Queen of Beauty" at a | | | | The personification of ideal beauty was an |
| Florentine jousting tournament, it was Simonetta's | | | | important concept to Italian Renaissance artists |
| face that Botticelli painted on an art banner that | | | | like Botticelli who thought that outward beauty |
| was carried into battle by the tournament winner, | | | | reflected inner beauty or virtue (spiritual beauty). |
| Giuliano de' Medici, a man soon to become her | | | | Simonetta died young in 1476 at the age of |
| lover. Inscribed beneath her image, Botticelli | | | | twenty-two from tuberculosis, but Botticelli |
| described her as "the unparalleled one." | | | | continued to feature her image in his art for the |
| Shortly after her arrival in Florence, Simonetta | | | | next three decades. All of Botticelli's female art |
| became known as "La Bella Simonetta," attracting | | | | images were portraits of Simonetta, her face |
| the attention of poets and artists like Botticelli. | | | | even appearing several times within some |
| They vied to honor her with their artistic | | | | compositions. At some time before his death |
| creations. At the age of fifteen, Simonetta | | | | thirty-four years later, Botticelli requested to be |
| married a cousin of Amerigo Vespucci, the | | | | buried at Simonetta's feet. His request was |
| famous Italian explorer for whom America was | | | | granted and both are interred in the Vespucci |
| named. It was through the Vespucci family | | | | parish church of Chiesa d'Ognissanti in Florence, |
| connection that Simonetta first met Botticelli and | | | | Italy. |
| the Medici family, prominent political figures and art | | | | |