Jo Walton
Sandro Botticelli is now one of the most popular painters of the Italian Renaissance. His beautiful ‘Primavera’ and elegant ‘Birth of Venus’ are amongst the best known images from the Florentine Golden Age, but the times he lived in were volatile and dangerous and his art masked political turmoil and religious unease. As Florence moved from the luxurious era of the Medici to the religious austerity of Savonarola, Botticelli and his painting became caught up in this great change – but who were the angels or the devils in this story – and on which side was Botticelli?
Jo read art history at Leicester University, completed a post-graduate diploma in Oxford specialising in the art and architecture of fifteenth century Italy and then went on to have a twenty-year career in the book trade, eventually running a specialist art bookshop in London, and working with the auctioneers, Christies. In addition she was a volunteer guide for Tate Modern and Tate Britain although much of her work now is with The National Gallery, The Art Fund and the Art Society.