UTOPIA IN ART AND LITERATURE: LINKING PRIMAVERA AND ODE TO THE WEST WIND (PART 1)

PRIMAVERA

(For all my readers who have doubt regarding the grrek mythological figures, i have provided their wiki links.Go check it out for extra knowledge)

   

                       Bewitching the melody of line, Sandro Botticelli distorted the reality for the sake of bringing poetic expressions to the entire theme. Something of a heavenly charm and serenity is always flowing through the painting ‘PRIMAVERA’ (the spring).

You always feel that the characters are moving, like an optical illusion. 

                    

                       I felt that this painting has the reverse influence of Davinici’s THE LAST SUPPER. In the latter an observer finds that each element in the canvas is aligned optically towards the center of the painting, Jesus. Primavera, on contrary directs your vision to all the elements present simultaneously, even the nocturnal background.

                      The main theme of Primavera chosen from the Greek mythology is unfolded on the right. The wind god ZEPHYRUS is pursuing the nymph CHLORIS who at his touch is transformed into FLORA.

SANDRO BOTTICELLI(A SELF-PORTRAIT)

                      This interaction between two elements of nature (disguised as Greek gods) I found had great resemblance with SHELLY’S ODE TO THE WEST WIND , where the wind is depicted as a creator, helping the floral cycle to turn continuously. it may destroy the floral life at a point, but then, it is to create a new life ,more enchanting than its predecessor.it keeps the natural flora in rhythm.

                    The Primavera similarly shows how the act of Zephyr , the wind god, pursuing Chloris (a selfish intention at that point) brings back life to the winter drawn nature in the form of Flora. Primavera’s staging of abstracted transformation (Chloris to  Flora) equates the natural birth of spring from an existing winter.

 

                    Shelly’s promise of spring from an existing winter is an equivalent of primavera’s right hand side, though, MIND YOU, it’s only my vision.

                     Now considering the left side, mercury stands ushering away the dull winds of winter, bringing in joy. Botticelli by inserting MERCURY, the multi-tasked god of financial gain, commerce, messages, travelers, luck, trickery and guide of the souls had perfectly agreed with my idea of linking PRIMAVERA with the ODE TO THE WEST WIND.

                    By being a guide to the souls, MERCURY exactly counters the role of west wind. Invoked by the speaker to help him spread his ideas, west wind plays the role as his guide. Moreover, mercury is the god of travelers and messengers which is what the poem says the west wind is.

What more, Mercury is the god of poetry itself.