How did Antonio Pollaiuolo influence Sandro Botticelli’s paintings?

After his initial training under Filippo Lippi, Sandro Botticelli sought to move beyond the relatively soft and frail figural style of his teacher. To achieve this, he studied the sculptural work of Antonio Pollaiuolo, a leading Florentine master of the 1460s.1

Pollaiuolo’s influence was instrumental in helping Botticelli transition toward a more robust and vigorous naturalism. By adopting the sculptural approach championed by Pollaiuolo, Botticelli began to produce figures characterized by greater strength and three-dimensional roundness. This shift is notably evident in his early works, such as Fortitude (1470), where the forms are defined by an incisive, flowing line that conveys both character and mood through pose and action.1

Furthermore, both artists shared a background as goldsmiths, which contributed to a common emphasis on linear precision and a sense of movement in their work. Under Pollaiuolo’s influence, Botticelli moved away from Lippi’s delicate approach, ultimately developing a style that integrated sculptural vitality with his own unique sense of ideal beauty.21