DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31769#0015
The meaning of the sensual and yet strangely reticent
figures in Botticelli’s work may perhaps be best ex-
plained by Marsilio Ficino’s words in a letter to
Lorenzo il Magnifico de’ Medici (Lorenzo the Mag-
nificent): “Much do the philosophers argue, the ora-
tors declaim, the poets sing, in order to exhort man to a
true love of virtue.... I think, however, that Virtue her-
self (if she can be placed before the eye) may serve
much better as an exhortation than the words of men.
It is useless to praise a girl in the ears of a boy, or de-
scribe her with words, if you want to arouse him to
love.... Point, if you can, to the fair maiden herself with
your finger and no further word will be needed. One
cannot describe how much more easily the sight of
Beauty inspires love than words can do. If, therefore,
we could present the wonderful aspect of Virtue itself
to the eyes of men there would no longer be any need
for our art of persuasion.” 7
ii
figures in Botticelli’s work may perhaps be best ex-
plained by Marsilio Ficino’s words in a letter to
Lorenzo il Magnifico de’ Medici (Lorenzo the Mag-
nificent): “Much do the philosophers argue, the ora-
tors declaim, the poets sing, in order to exhort man to a
true love of virtue.... I think, however, that Virtue her-
self (if she can be placed before the eye) may serve
much better as an exhortation than the words of men.
It is useless to praise a girl in the ears of a boy, or de-
scribe her with words, if you want to arouse him to
love.... Point, if you can, to the fair maiden herself with
your finger and no further word will be needed. One
cannot describe how much more easily the sight of
Beauty inspires love than words can do. If, therefore,
we could present the wonderful aspect of Virtue itself
to the eyes of men there would no longer be any need
for our art of persuasion.” 7
ii