In this vivid account Ana Debenedetti examines the life and work of Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli, through the lens of the organisation of his workshop and the commercial strategies he devised to make his way in the very competitive art market in Florence at that time. She looks at the remarkable career of this pivotal artist and his production with fresh eyes, presenting the analysis within the wider context of Florentine society and culture.

Many of Botticelli's most celebrated works such as The Birth of Venus are evaluated alongside less familiar forms such as tapestry and embroidery, showing the wide breath of the artist's oeuvre and his talent as a designer across media.