During Sandro Botticelli's lifetime (1444/45-1510), the influence of his art scarcely reached beyond his native Florence, and following his death he was soon forgotten, to be rediscovered only in the 19th century, by the Pre-Raphaelites. Since then, Botticelli has ranked among the greatest of the Renaissance artists.

In the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, paintings such as 'Primavera' and 'The Birth of Venus' belong to the foremost attractions for tourists and art lovers. His captivating figures of women, his intimate portrayals of the Madonna and Child, and the angel-like beauty of his adolescents are famous the world over today.