Join Benvenuto for a special
viewing of The Adoration of
the Kings, one of the most
captivating and renowned
paintings by Italian
Renaissance artist Sandro
Botticelli (1445–1510), on
loan to the Museo Diocesano
by the Uffizi Galleries in
Florence from 29 October
2024 to 2 February 2025.
The work, with its Christmas
related theme, was painted
around 1475 for the Kings’
chapel, in the church of Santa
Maria Novella in Florence.
The Adoration was chosen as
a subject in part to honor the
wealthy, ambitious businessman
who had commissioned the chapel,
Gasparre (like the youngest of the
Kings) del Lama, but also to pay
homage to Florence’s ruling family,
the Medicis, who were fervent
supporters of the Kings’ Company.
Botticelli shows great originality,
choosing a balanced composition
and placing the hut in the center
with the various characters
arranged around it in a great
variety of poses and attitudes.
Botticelli himself is depicted as the
blond young man in a golden cloak
seen on the right, looking straight
at the viewer. The Adoration
showcases the artist as a skilled
portrait painter, displaying a
bright palette and attention
to detail; we also catch
glimpses of a landscape in
the background, dotted with
ruins of ancient buildings—
an exercise in the use of
perspective.
Time: 11:15am
Venue: Museo Diocesano,
Piazza Sant’Eustorgio, 3
Cost: €23 (ticket+guide)
Sign up: Gisella Garbagnati.
To reserve your place, please
sign up at specialactivities@
benvenutoclubofmilan.
it and send payment to
Benvenuto’s account: IBAN
IT59Q0200801600000103996605.
