Talk:Adoration of the Magi (Botticelli, 1475)

Botticelli or Ghirlandaio?

Being aware of Wiki's policies concerning original work, I am nonetheless wondering if it might not be perhaps better to couch some of the article's language in more equivocal terms? Expressing some measure of doubt?

Why?

1. The artist:

In left of center, there appears a figure that bears a striking resemblance to Domenico Ghirlandaio, known to have inserted self-portraits in several of his other works. See image I have attached hereto.

Comparison: Detail, 'Adoration of the Magi', Attributed to Botticelli, (1475), to: Detail, self-portrait, from "Expulsion of Joachim", Ghirlandaio, and: Detail, self-portrait, Ghirlandaio, 'Adoration of the Magi', (1488)

In addition, the style of the composition, the massed profile portraits of contemporary figures, is very similar to other works by Ghirlandaio, for instance, note the similarity of the right side to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocation_of_the_Apostles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domenico_Ghirlandaio

2. The year:

The work appears to refer to the events of the Pazzi Conspiracy of 1478, while the date given is 1475. Giuliano was murdered. Lorenzo narrowly escaped assassination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pazzi_conspiracy

Giuliano de Medici appears, hand to throat, kneeling right of center, with eyes apparently 'rolled back'. Doesn't look at all well. Next to Lorenzo, standing. Lorenzo is the only de Medici 'left standing'.

There is a fallen crown. A symbol of death. And a peacock. A symbol of resurrection.

The Star of the Nativity also triggered the Massacre of the Innocents. And so, the nature of the "offering" to the Holy Spirit is, perhaps, symbolic?

I think a good case can be made that the figures in the lower left are likely Giralamo Riario (with fawning toady carressing him) and Giovanni della Rovere, (gesturing) for whose benefit the conspiracy took place.

3. The identifications:

The figure that the article identifies as: "Del Lama is portrayed as the old man on the right with white hair and a light blue robe looking and pointing at the observer".

...looks to be Marsilio Ficino.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsilio_Ficino

And...the alleged self-portrait of Botticelli? Well, can't very well be a "self-portrait" if it is, indeed, a work by Ghirlandaio, can it?

There was another victim of the attempted assassination of Lorenzo. Francesco Nori, whose body shielded Lorenzo. That would be my bet.

Tobias316 (talk) 20:32, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: The Year 1500 - A Global History of Art and Architecture

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 1 February 2022 and 23 May 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Lilylynsey, LDRbby, Beliza4 (article contribs).