Sandro Botticelli was born Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Felipepi in Florence, Italy in 1445. He gained popularity as an Italian painter during the Renaissance and is often associated with the Florentine school of artists known for their humanistic perception of the world.

Due to the popularity of the subject, Botticelli worked on several Madonna and Child paintings for the Catholic Church and the Florentine aristocracy. These paintings came in various sizes and formats and were often the biggest source of income for artists. Botticelli popularized the “tondo” or round painting format with his Madonna paintings which highlight the beauty and purity of motherhood. Tondos were typically made for grand homes and displayed prominently to emphasize the family’s religious devotion.

Notice how in Botticelli’s paintings the female characters appear to be similar. It is speculated that Botticelli’s model and muse was Simonetta Vespucci, the cousin-in-law of Amerigo Vespucci, Italian explorer and navigator for whose name the term “America” is derived. Botticelli held Simonetta in high regard and it is rumored that he was in love with her. Though he never married, Sandro requested to buried at the foot of Simonetta’s tomb, where he now rests.