What you are looking at
Venus, goddess of love, stands on a giant scallop shell as she drifts ashore. On the left the wind god Zephyr and a companion blow her toward land in a shower of roses; on the right a woman waits to wrap her in a cloak covered in flowers.
Why it is famous
It was one of the first large paintings on canvas in Renaissance Florence, and one of the first to show a classical nude goddess at this scale. It was painted in tempera, which gives it a pale, matte look very different from oil.
How big is The Birth of Venus?
The Birth of Venus measures 172.5 × 278.5 cm (67.9 × 109.6 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 11 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It hangs in the Uffizi's Botticelli rooms next to Primavera. Book a timed entry and head there first, before the tour groups arrive.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in Florence.
More by Sandro Botticelli
All Sandro Botticelli paintings
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Birth of Venus?
Sandro Botticelli painted The Birth of Venus in c. 1485.
Where is The Birth of Venus?
The Birth of Venus is in the Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy.
How big is The Birth of Venus?
172.5 × 278.5 cm (67.9 × 109.6 in). Its surface is about 11 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Birth of Venus made with?
Tempera on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q151047; Wikipedia, "The Birth of Venus". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.