Italian Renaissance · 1445–1510 · Italian

Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli painted mostly in egg tempera, which dries fast into clear, matte color and doesn't allow the soft blending of oil. The Birth of Venus is tempera on canvas, unusual for so large a work in its time.

Across 4 works, the colors are mostly brown (54%), black (17%) and gray (10%). On average the canvases are mid-toned, moderately saturated and warm. Signature colors, used far more here than across the collection: rich sienna, soot, dark golden umber, umber and pale muted golden cream.

Color print

The swatches covering most of these canvases, averaged over every work, dark to light.

• MG 223 soot 10.0% of canvas
• MG 177 dark taupe 7.4% of canvas
• MG 222 charcoal 5.3% of canvas
• MG 219 bistre 4.8% of canvas
• MG 185 dark golden umber 4.2% of canvas
• MG 184 umber 4.1% of canvas
• MG 176 taupe 3.6% of canvas
• MG 183 golden umber 3.1% of canvas
• MG 221 blue black 3.0% of canvas
• MG 171 bone 2.9% of canvas
• MG 202 pale muted golden cream 2.6% of canvas
• MG 175 stone 2.5% of canvas
• MG 167 brown 2.5% of canvas
• MG 174 warm grey 2.2% of canvas
• MG 182 golden umber 2.2% of canvas
• MG 173 putty 2.2% of canvas

Measurements

Lightness

0.51

Contrast

0.57

Vividness

0.040

Warmth

+0.97

Complexity

216 cells

Hue range

0.43

Focus

0.12

Works

• Adoration of the Magi, c. 1475
• Primavera, 1480s
• The Birth of Venus, 1485
• Venus and Mars, 1485