At the end of the fifteenth century, Simonetta Vespucci, married to Marco Vespucci,brother of Amerigo Vespucci, was considered the most beautiful woman in Florence.
The young Simonetta was the model not only of Botticelli, but also of many
other Renaissance painters.
Florentines were fascinated so much by the beauty of the girl to give her
the nickname of "La bella Simonetta".
The Birth of
Venus was commissioned by Giuliano de 'Medici,brother of Lorenzo Il
Magnifico,to Botticelli and is still by far the best work that is enhanced
the beauty of the young lady who posed as a model.
Some historians argue that the same Botticelli was in love with Simonetta,
a love never declared, expressed only through the portraits: in addition to the
2 famous painting of the Uffizi Gallery, many of the women in the paintings of
Botticelli resemble Simonetta.
The young Simonetta tragically died of tuberculosis at the age of 23 years.
Botticelli asked to be buried in the church of Ognissanti in Florence,
where Simonetta had her tomb.
The beauty and charm of Simonetta are mentioned in the book of Rushdie: The
Enchantress of Florence.
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