Platonic Love

            The painting called “Primavera” is a representation of platonic love in many different ways. One of the ways platonic love is defined by Ben Jonson, an artist of that time, is “A spiritual coupling of two souls/ so much more excellent as it relates unto the body.” As our reading goes on to say that our soul is long lasting and could have a platonic relationship with the object our body would find after we die. This painting is a representation of platonic love because of the coupling of souls throughout the painting. On the far right of the painting Zephyrus, god of the west wind, tries to grab Chloris, the nymph of spring. In a way, I think this shows the coupling of seasons. It shows that the west winds or fall is grabbing onto spring, trying to reach it to pull the spring season into fall. In another comparison, Flora (the goddess of flowers) is standing next the Chloris. I find this interesting because spring is almost always associated with flowers because it is a time of things to bloom and colors to be added to a winter world. These are different ways that things are coupled together with platonic love.

            In this painting there are many angles. Whether it is a goddess reaching for a branch or one goddess reaching for another, it shows and demonstrates the science and math that can be categorized with renaissance art. Another generalization that can be connected is the highly symbolic rule. I think that each goddess was place where they are for a reason. Many comparisons can be made about this painting. Zephyrus is placed next to Chloris and I think this could be symbolic of winds bring season changes to the world.