I have always been a fan of art history, making this post kind of special. The Birth Of Venus is one of the most famous paintings in the world and was painted by Sandro Botticelli in around 1485. The island nation of Samoa has this year created a silver coin in the Silver Giants of Art series featuring this masterpiece some 540 years after it's creation. Believe it or not what you see above is in actuality a $100 silver coin from Samoa that recreates the painting on one kilogram of solid silver.
I have to give them an A+ for creativity on this one. It's a beautifully done coin that pays tribute to one of the most beautiful works on the early Italian Renaissance. Below you can see how the coin looks and even comes with it's own stands for display. Additionally it comes in wooden presentation box. Have a look below:
And on the back of the coin you can see the image of King Charles along with the denomination and numbered coin in the series of only 500.
Images from APMEX.com
About the coin:
It really is a very cool item and I love the fact that it's one kilogram of solid silver. The one problem I have with it is the price, at $3,545 it's way outside of my budget. Plus the spot price for one kilogram of silver right now is $1,087, so you are paying an extra $2500 or so just the image and exclusive coin. As cool as it is, not something I would buy at it's current price... Maybe at a later date if the price were to fall, but with these kinds of series, it's not likely.
The Birth Of Venus
Wikipedia.org
The Birth Of Venus is one of the most famous paintings in the world, and one of the larger works by Botticelli. It is believed to have been painted around 1485 to 1486, although it's a guesstimate. It depicts the birth of the goddess Venus, born fully grown, arriving from the sea. Today it's located at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy along with another of Botticelli's large paintings called the Primavera. Both display classic mythological subjects done in the Italian Renaissance period.
Below is the Primavera:
Wikipedia.org
Sandro Botticelli
Wikipedia.org
Probable self portrait from 1475 from Adoration of the Magi
Born in Florence, Italy in about 1445 Botticelli is a well known Italian painter from the early Renaissance. He is best known for much of his work with mythological subjects, although he painted extensive religious subjects throughout his career. Ironically, he actually painted very few mythological subject works and yet they are now his most famous paintings.
He even was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV to paint frescos in the Sistine Chapel which had just recently been completed. Many of them are still in the chapel but are often overlooked due to the work of Michelangelo painted over the next century.
Although today his artwork is worth millions, during his life he was a working artist. One account said he earned a lot of money that was squandered, but written after the fact. It's hard to gauge accuracy as it was over 500 years ago. After passing away in 1510, for centuries his artwork fell out of favor until the late 1800's when his works were "rediscovered" by artists who began to emulate his style.
I suppose he got the last laugh, posthumously, as now his paintings are some of the best known works of art in the world!
Some of his great works:
Madonna with Child and St. John the Baptist, 1470-1475 AD, now in the Louvre, Paris, France.
Wikipedia.org
Adorations of the Magi, painted circa 1475 AD, in Uffizi Gallery collection in Florence, Italy. The believed self portrait of Botticelli seen on the far right.
Wikipedia.org
Youth of Moses, Sistine Chapel, Rome
Wikiepedia.org
Botticelli was buried in the Ognissanti Church in Florence at the feet of Italian noblewoman Simonetta Vespucci. It has been suspected that the image of Venus was based on her beauty, and he requested to be buried at her feet which was granted. He has been at rest there now for 515 years.
Henry May
That will wrap up my post for today. Although I won't be adding this one kilo of silver to my collection anytime soon it is pretty cool. I do hope it expands the knowledge of art history around the world. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below, and thank you for all of your support. I truly am very grateful to each and every one of you here on Hive. I hope you all have a great day!
References:
https://www.apmex.com/product/313601/2025-samoa-1-kilo-silver-giants-of-art-the-birth-of-venus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandro_Botticelli
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primavera_(Botticelli)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7846100/sandro-botticelli
Disclaimer:
I am not a financial planner and this isn't financial advice. Please always do your own research before investing your money. You worked hard enough to earn it!
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