Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Title: Birth of Venus
  • Creator: Botticelli, Sandro, painter
  • Description: Venus is borne from the sea on a large shell, blown by the west wind, Zephyr, and the nymph, Chloris. Eunomia, one of the classical Horai, prepares to dress her with a flowered mantle on shore. Eunomia was the goddess of good order and here represents the obedient behavior of women in marriage.
  • Source: Wikimedia Commons
  • Rights: Public domain
  • Subject (See Also): Classical Influences Personification Sexuality Venus (Mythological Figure)
  • Geographic Area: Italy
  • Century: 15
  • Date: ca. 1484
  • Related Work:
  • Current Location: Florence, Uffizi Gallery
  • Original Location: Villa Castello of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de'Medici.
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Canvas; Tempera
  • Donor: Layman; Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’Medici, cousin of Lorenzo il Magnifico
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): 278.5 cm/172.9 cm/
  • Inscription:
  • Related Resources: