The Birth of Venus

The Birth of Venus remains the definitive Renaissance icon of feminine grace, drawing 5.7 million annual visitors to Florence's Uffizi Gallery and single-handedly driving a significant portion of that traffic. Botticelli's tempera masterpiece (c.1484-86) portrays Venus emerging from the sea, revolutionizing artistic ideals for 500 years. Its influence surpasses that of #6 The Last Supper in cultural penetration, as Venus's pose has been referenced more frequently in modern media, appearing in over 200 advertisements and films since 1950.