"The Birth of Venus" is one of the most famous Sandro Botticelli's works. However, few know that this Renaissance image of Venus may not have survived to this day. Botticelli's image of Venus marks the transition from medieval religious painting to secular art. In 1497, the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola encouraged Christians in Florence to erect a seven-story bonfire to burn confiscated "trinkets" that "contributed to sin." Some historical documents report that Sandro Botticelli was one of the participants in the ceremony and personally threw several of his works on mythological themes into the fire. But the flames of the fire spared The Birth of Venus.
Keep the Venus figurine for your collection. World Art Collection figures don't burn!
