Nguyen 1
Art History 100 Research Paper
Jennifer Nguyen
Professor Alley
Art History 100
December 10, 2017
Nguyen 2
One of the biggest influences on art throughout history has been religion. Artists have
created works for divine figures as form of worship. Artists have also created works inspired by
divine figures to portray their own ideas and opinions about society. Sandro Botticelli and Paul
Gaugin are two artists who produced paintings inspired by divine figures to communicate a
message about their own ideals. The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, 1482, portrays the
Greek goddess of love, Venus. The Seed of Areoi by Paul Gaugin, 1892, depicts the Polynesian
goddess, Vaïraümati. The portrayal of goddesses in paintings from the Renaissance and Post-
Impressionism era give a better understanding of perpetuating societal perceptions about
femininity.
Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus portrays the Roman goddess of love, Venus,
standing nude on a large, white seashell with gold trimmings at the center of the painting. Venus
