I recently returned from a trip to Florence and I have to say I was blown away by its beauty. I’ve always known that Florence was special to the point that the Stendhal syndrome can hit you, and you fall in love with it as you traverse its streets and squares. It’s the land of Fiorentina steak, Chianti wine, leather goods and of course art, particularly Renaissance art.
As the rigid morality of the medieval era started to fade, Renaissance painters like Botticelli and Titian created a new aesthetic which pioneered the accurate depiction of the human body. Under the influence of their art, a new feminine ideal was born, emphasizing voluptuous female curves.
1. “The Allegory of Spring” (La Primavera) by Sandro Botticelli, 1482, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
2. “Sacred and Profane Love” by Titian, 1514, Galleria Borghese, Rome
Bodies became again the centre of the art. Feminine curves were celebrated and exalted with precious ornaments and luxurious fabrics. Lingerie as a means to elevate femininity, followed the trend of this new ideal of beauty, introducing undergarments that enhanced women’s sexual appeal.
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3. “Pallas Athena and the Centaur” by Sandro Botticelli, 1482, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
4.”Allegoria della Forza”, Ambito Fiorentino, 1550/1559, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence
The Renaissance played an essential role in creating new (under)garments that served the purpose of highlighting femininity and the perception of beauty.
