TED-Ed: Dissecting Botticelli's Adoration of the Magi - James Earle

The video explores the early career of Sandro Botticelli, focusing on his painting 'The Adoration of the Magi.' It highlights Botticelli's ambition to create original work and assert his status among Florence's elite. The painting features prominent figures, including the Medici family, illustrating their influence and Botticelli's self-perception as more than a craftsman. The video also discusses the symbolic elements in the painting, such as the setting in Roman ruins, and Botticelli's inclusion of himself among the elite, marking a shift in the perception of artists during the Renaissance.

What was Botticelli's innovative approach to the traditional theme of the Three Wise Men?

• He placed the scene in a Roman ruin.

• He used only abstract forms.

• He depicted them in a modern cityscape.

• He painted them as mythical creatures.

Who was the patron that commissioned Botticelli's painting?

• Giovanni de' Medici

• Piero de' Medici

• Gaspare del Lama

• Lorenzo de' Medici

Which family members were used as models for the Magi in Botticelli's painting?

• The Medici family

• The Pazzi family

• The Borgia family

• The Sforza family

What does Botticelli's inclusion of himself in the painting signify?

• His desire to remain anonymous

• His intention to mock the patrons

• His view of himself as a mere craftsman

• A shift in the perception of artists as equals to the elite

What broader narrative does 'The Adoration of the Magi' convey beyond the biblical story?

• The decline of the Medici family

• The rise of abstract art

• The social ambition and artistic reputation of Botticelli

• The fall of the Roman Empire