“The Story of Virginia,” created by Sandro Botticelli between 1496 and 1504, is a tempera work on a panel belonging to the Early Renaissance art movement. It measures 85 by 165 cm and is an illustration genre painting currently housed in the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, Italy.
The artwork portrays a highly detailed and complex scene set against an architecturally rich background, encapsulating a narrative moment from ancient Roman history. Central to the composition is a grand, domed structure with ornately decorated columns and vividly painted scenes in the spandrels. A procession of people and horses populate the foreground, showcasing individuals in dynamic and expressive poses. The vivid colors, intricate drapery, and the animated congregation exemplify Botticelli’s finesse and narrative prowess, immersed in the aesthetics of the Early Renaissance period.
