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Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:49 am  |
Hello,
someone (my date) told me that I have Botticellian eyes I took it as a complement, my eyes are blue-green without brown inclusions, but my friend said it is not a good thing to say to someone. She said that she would be insulted if someone said it to her.
For me everything that is Botticellian has to do with 1400-1500 century Italian arts. I don't think it is not a good thing to say to someone... Am I wrong? |
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Blond, blue eyes.Skin: Normal, sometimes oily, during winter very dry. Very sensitive. Occasional breakouts. Very fair. |
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havana8
Moderator
 
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 3451
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Sat Sep 27, 2008 3:12 pm |
I've never heard that either, Lara, but am very curious to hear what it means too!  |
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Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:36 pm |
| I had to google this and still don't know what it means. I guess I would your date what it means to him. |
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Sat Sep 27, 2008 6:02 pm |
I would take it as a compliment! He does such soulful
eyes! Just google "Botticelli" and see "Birth of Venus"!! Lovely! So feminine. |
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Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:52 am |
I would be surprised if this weren't intended as a complement -- my husband's boss's wife has eyes that I would use these words to describe and everytime I see her, I am struck by the beauty of them. Her eyes are brown, and I believe that the "Bottecellian" quality has more to do with the shape of the eye and the lid than it does with any specific eye color.
However it was intended by the person who said it, I am envious that you have Botticellian eyes!  |
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It's vanity, not sanity ... 51; sensitive combo skin with mild rosacea -- my skin loves my Clarisonic, Dr. Mist and Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:42 am |
Wow, Lara1, what a charming and sophisticated thing to hear from your date; I think that you should absolutely take it as a compliment!!
I agree with Cathy_Jean that it's the shape of the eye and the lids rather than any specific color. To most people, his remark would have connotations with very pretty, sort of almond shaped eyes (without slanting up at the outer corners), with slightly heavy upper lids (sultry!) and a full lower lid below the lash line. (One contemporary pair of eyes I think would fit as "Botticellian" in a way might be Uma Thurman's.)
At the very least, I would suspect he meant your eyes are memorable. 
Here is an excellent online image of one of his most famous works, The Birth of Venus. Note the same eye shape and face in one of his paintings of "the Madonna".
Apparently he repeatedly patterned the subtly stylized shape based on the eyes of his beloved muse/model, Simonetta Vespucci:
"...Only shortly after her arrival in Florence, Simonetta became known as "La Bella Simonetta," attracting the attention of poets and artists like Botticelli. They vied to honor her with their artistic creations. At the age of fifteen, Simonetta married a cousin of Amerigo Vespucci, the famous Italian explorer for whom America was named. It was through the Vespucci family connection that Simonetta first met Botticelli and the Medici family, prominent political figures and art patrons.
...The face of Simonetta personified the Italian Renaissance concept of ideal beauty. This was important to artists like Botticelli, who thought that outward beauty reflected inner beauty or virtue (spiritual beauty). Simonetta died in 1476 at the age of twenty-two, but Botticelli continued to feature her image in his art for the rest of his life. All of Botticelli's female art images were portraits of Simonetta. Upon his death three decades later, Botticelli requested to be buried at Simonetta's feet."
—The Face That Launched a Thousand Prints
Swoon. Seriously.
No idea why your friend thinks "it is not a good thing to say to someone" or why she would ever consider the remark an insult. I'm really curious; can you find out more about why she believes that? Maybe she doesn't really understand who Botticelli was or why his artwork is particularly known for beautiful renderings of distinctive female faces?
There is a book called "The Girl with the Botticelli Eyes" by Herbert Lieberman, where "...a curator of Renaissance painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art goes to Europe and meets a beautiful young woman, Isobel Cattaneo, a direct descendant of Botticelli's famed model and mistress, Simonetta"
French-born contemporary jazz musician and composer Philippe Saisse wrote a song called "The Girl with Botticelli Eyes" on his Halfway to Dawn album.
How often do men write songs about unattractive eyes??! 
OK. I've exercised my inner Art Geek enough and must get to bed! |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:51 am |
The Uffizi in Florence has many Bottecellis including the woman on the clam shell. She has long golden hair and eyes that I think look sort of golden green. They are beautiful so I would certainly like someone to say this of me!
Lucky girl! |
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Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:04 pm |
| I anyone else reading this and thinking, "I want someone to say that to me!" |
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