Started in the fourteenth century and lasting until the sixteenth century was the rebirth of literature and art, commonly known as the Renaissance. While the period of revival had spanned across Europe, one country had been the main birthplace of the Renaissance; Italy had not only produced revolutionary literature and art, it had also produced the masters of the Renaissance. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and many more were the Italian leaders in the flourishing decorative arts that sought to show off the natural beauty in the world.1 One book produced during the Renaissance period that had discussed natural beauty and the perfect woman in art and in life was The Book of the Courtier written by Baldassare Castiglione. The book was written partly in Urbino and partly in …show more content…
A few portraits that show this notation are Mars and Venus United by Love by Paolo Veronese, Venus and Cupid by Lorenzo Lotto, Venus of Urbino by Titian, and Sleeping Venus by Giorgione and Titian (Titian had only aided in completing the painting after his master, Giorgione, had passed away with the painting incomplete)6. All of the pieces stated previously were made in Venice and after The Book of the Courtier was started. In order of the list they were created in the 1570s7, 1520s8, 15389, and 151010. They all also show the same goddess. Venus was a reoccurring subject in many portraits from the Renaissance period due to her irresistible beauty. She was also well known amongst people so she was easily recognizable regardless of who painted her. The goddess of love was always shown with soft luminosity that gave her an ethereal appearance. Many other factors played into how she, and any other woman, was portrayed in portraits by artist who were from the same region as The Book of the