During Sandro Botticelli's lifetime (1444/45-1510), the influence of his art scarcely reached beyond his native Florence, and following his death he was soon forgotten. He was rediscovered in the 19th century by the Pre-Raphaelites. Since then, Botticelli has ranked among the greatest of the Renaissance artists.
In the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, paintings such as Primavera and The Birth of Venus belong to the foremost attractions for tourists and art lovers. His captivating figures of women, his intimate portrayals of the Madonna and Child, and the angel-like beauty of his adolescents are famous the world over today.
Botticelli is part of the Taschen Basic Art series. Each book in this series gives a detailed chronological summary of the artist's life and work, covering the cultural and historical importance of the artist. Each book contains approximately 100 colour illustrations with explanatory captions and a concise biography of the artist.