Botticelli's Mystical Nativity; Reclaiming Medieval Symbolism in a Pagan Age.
This is an in-depth analysis of Sandro Botticelli's painting "The Mystical Nativity" (1500). It includes an analysis of the aesthetic, symbolic, and formal elements of the painting, as well as a short biography of the painter and a section on the theological implications of the painting. As a traditional Christian theme, the nativity is one of the most popular. This radical reinterpretation, however, combines symbolism from Revelation with the scene of the first coming of the messiah, creating a dynamic image. The style is a throwback to medieval formalism, and the distorted figures are a reference to a holier time, perhaps influenced by the resurgence of medieval ideology in the person of Savonarola, whose ideas heavily influenced this painting. The paper can serve as a demonstration of understanding of Renaissance religious symbolism, or as a deep analysis of a single work of art from the quattrocento. 13 pgs. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
