Unit Overview

In this unit you will learn about one of the five masters of the Italian Renaissance, Sandro Botticelli. The timeline has been reproduced below.

I. Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli was born Sandro Filipepi to a lowly tanner who worked very hard to give his children a better life. The word "Botticelli" means "little barrels", and it was a nickname given to Sandro's fat older brother. The name "Botticelli" spread to the whole family because it was used so often. Sandro worked under painters because he had talent at a young age. He was very bright, said to grasp everything he wanted to learn with ease.

Botticelli learned how to paint by being a painter's apprentice for six years. He made paint brushes, ground pigments for paint, ran errands, and sometimes helped the artist paint large frescos.

Botticelli painted both mythological and Christian scenes, though towards the end of his career he began to focus on religious subjects. He finally decided that his works were not pious enough, and spent the rest of his life in a monastery.

Sandra Botticelli PDF




Now answer questions 1-21.

Below are additional educational resources and activities for this unit.

Unit 6 Cornell Notes Worksheet