National Geographic History - July 2019

Mercury, his right hand

raised, waves his caduceus

(staff with entwined

serpents) to expel

threatening clouds.

The Graces, servants of

Venus, dance intertwined.

They represent the refined

qualities of love, beauty,

and chastity.

RITES OF SPRING

center, Cupid fires an arrow of love at the three

Graces as they dance. To the left, Mercury shoos

away clouds from the garden. One reading of

the picture is as an allegory emphasizing a Neo-

platonist take on love and marriage, as desire is

transformed and sanctified on a higher plane.

Botticelli completed “Primavera” (Spring) in

1482 for a relative of Lorenzo de’ Medici. The

painting depicts a classical allegory, with the

action proceeding from right to left: The nymph

Chloris is seized by Zephyr and transformed into

Flora, goddess of spring. Above Venus, at the

ORONOZ/ALBUM

“PRIMAVERA” (1482). UFFIZI
GALLERY, FLORENCE