2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Primavera According to the Uffizi

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Niharika Dinkar

Abstract

Primavera by Sandro Botticelli is one of the most iconic paintings of the Renaissance and the history of art. Traditionally, it has been studied through an analysis of the icons that permeate the painting, which intend to uncover the meaning Botticelli intended when he created it. Today, however, the painting is located in the Uffizi Gallery, where millions of visitors see it without knowledge of Renaissance art or its historical context.

For this reason, this project explores Primavera through a new perspective. It will examine how its meaning is shaped by the museum environment. The project considers the Uffizi’s layout, the placement of Primavera within the museum, and goes as far as to research how visitors interact with it. By analyzing these factors, it will highlight how museums influence the way we experience and interpret art.

More broadly, this study evaluates how institutions shape the meaning of an artwork. This approach has been used in art history to consider how museums and other institutions play an important role in inflecting the meaning of an artwork. Given that most viewers interact with paintings within these contexts, it evaluates how museums aspire to become temples of learning enshrining iconic artworks like Botticelli's.

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