Temptations of Christ (Botticelli)
Encyclopedia
The Temptations of Christ is a fresco by the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli
, executed in 1480–1482 and located in the Sistine Chapel
, Rome
.
, the de facto ruler of Florence
, and Pope Sixtus IV
. The Florentines started to work in the Sistine Chapel
as early as the Spring of 1481, along with Pietro Perugino
, who was already there.
The theme of the decoration was a parallel between the Stories of Moses and those of Christ, as a sign of continuity between the Old
and the New Testament
. A continuity also between the divine law of the Tables and the message of Jesus, who, in turn, chose Peter (the first alleged bishop of Rome) as his successor: this would finally result into a legitimation of the latter's successors, the popes of Rome.
Botticelli, helped by numerous assistants, painted three scenes. On 17 February 1482 his contract was renovated, including the other scenes to complete the chapel's decoration. However, on 20 February, his father died: he returned to Florence, where he remained.
Christ is portrayed in the upper left corner while meeting the devil, disguised as a hermit, who invites him to turn stones into bread. In the center, Botticelli painted Christ and the devil over to the top of temple pediment
, inspired to the Hospital of Santo Spirito in Sassia
at Rome: the devil defies Jesus to jump down, expecting the angels will save him. On the right, Christ has the devil fall down from a rock.
The foreground shows a sacrifice rite, which has been identified as the one performed by the leprous man who had been healed by Jesus. The high priest symbolizes Moses, who transmits the Law, and the young man symbolizes Christ, who, according to the Gospel, was also sacrificed to save humanity.
Sandro Botticelli
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance...
, executed in 1480–1482 and located in the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
History
On 27 October 1480 Botticelli, together with other Florentine painters, left for Rome, where he had been called as part of the reconciliation project between Lorenzo de' MediciLorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. Known as Lorenzo the Magnificent by contemporary Florentines, he was a diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists and poets...
, the de facto ruler of Florence
Republic of Florence
The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
, and Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
. The Florentines started to work in the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
as early as the Spring of 1481, along with Pietro Perugino
Pietro Perugino
Pietro Perugino , born Pietro Vannucci, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, who developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance...
, who was already there.
The theme of the decoration was a parallel between the Stories of Moses and those of Christ, as a sign of continuity between the Old
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. A continuity also between the divine law of the Tables and the message of Jesus, who, in turn, chose Peter (the first alleged bishop of Rome) as his successor: this would finally result into a legitimation of the latter's successors, the popes of Rome.
Botticelli, helped by numerous assistants, painted three scenes. On 17 February 1482 his contract was renovated, including the other scenes to complete the chapel's decoration. However, on 20 February, his father died: he returned to Florence, where he remained.
Description
The scene of the Temptations of Christ depicts three episodes from the gospels, in parallel with the scene on the opposite wall, also by Botticelli, showing the Trials of Moses. The painting has a frieze with the inscription (similar to the other fresco's) saying TEMPTATIO IESU CHRISTI LATORIS EVANGELICAE LEGIS ("The Temptations of Christ, Bringer of the Evangelic Law").Christ is portrayed in the upper left corner while meeting the devil, disguised as a hermit, who invites him to turn stones into bread. In the center, Botticelli painted Christ and the devil over to the top of temple pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
, inspired to the Hospital of Santo Spirito in Sassia
Santo Spirito in Sassia
Santo Spirito in Sassia is a 12th century basilica church in Rome.It has been erected in Borgo Santo Spirito, a street which got its name from the church, placed in the southern part of Rione Borgo....
at Rome: the devil defies Jesus to jump down, expecting the angels will save him. On the right, Christ has the devil fall down from a rock.
The foreground shows a sacrifice rite, which has been identified as the one performed by the leprous man who had been healed by Jesus. The high priest symbolizes Moses, who transmits the Law, and the young man symbolizes Christ, who, according to the Gospel, was also sacrificed to save humanity.