Born Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi in Florence, Italy, Botticelli was a central figure of the Early Renaissance. He trained under Fra Filippo Lippi and later established his own workshop, eventually securing the patronage of the powerful Medici family, which allowed him to produce some of his most ambitious large-scale compositions.

His signature style is characterized by a refined, lyrical use of line and a distinct departure from the rigid realism of his contemporaries. He frequently drew upon classical mythology and Christian iconography, blending these themes with a delicate, rhythmic aesthetic that defined his approach to tempera painting on panel.

While his influence waned in the centuries following his death, Botticelli was rediscovered in the late 19th century by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. This critical reappraisal cemented his status as a foundational figure in Western art history, with his paintings now held in major collections worldwide, most notably the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.