Legion of Honor Museum

One of the greatest painters of the Florentine Renaissance, Sandro Botticelli is best known for his life-size paintings. But did you know that he also illustrated manuscripts? 📖

This beautiful illustration is found in an elegant manuscript containing Petrarch's 'Canzoniere' and 'Trionfi', two major collections of Italian poetry from the 14th century. The illustration depicts Botticelli's interpretation of Petrarch's 'Triumph of Love' (or 'Trionfo d'Amore' in Italian), showcasing a "fiery chariot" pulled by four white horses carrying a winged Cupid. 💘

The manuscript was created as a luxury item, likely commissioned for a high-profile individual, possibly Lorenzo de' Medici. Lorenzo held great admiration for Petrarch's work and actively promoted him as a cultural figure in Florence.

This work traveled all the way from Ravenna, Italy, on loan from our friends at Biblioteca Classense.

Have you had a chance to see it yet?

They are all entirely achievable, and I will absolutely, definitely, stick to them 🫣

[Mrs. John Rogers (Elizabeth Rodman Rogers), ca. 1795, James Earl]

Can we help artist and visitor Andrew Faulkner name this beautiful painting of our staircase? 👇

🎨 by

"There is something about museum interiors that really attracts me. Maybe it has to do with the wonder and curiosity while moving through these spaces. This is a staircase in SF. And title ideas would be welcome."

Any plans for January 1st? Why not spend your first day of the year in Renaissance Florence? Our museums will be open on New Year's Day. 🎨

Happy Holidays from our museum family to yours! ✨

As a reminder, the de Young and Legion of Honor will be closing early at 4 pm on 12/24 and 12/31. The museums will be closed on 12/25.

This monumental Virgin and Child might be Sandro Botticelli’s largest surviving tondo (circular painting), but there’s even more to it than meets the eye…

It is full of rich details and symbols, giving the painting even more layers of meaning:

🌹 Red roses for love of the Virgin Mary
🪷 White lilies for the purity of the Virgin Mary
🪻 Crown of purple-blue cornflowers for Christ and heaven
🩸 Scarlet pomegranate seeds in Jesus’s hand for his blood that will be spilled
🪽 Singing angels for choirs in Florence, or maybe a group of Botticelli’s apprentices

Come see the artwork in person and discover its secrets for yourself 🗝️

[Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist and Six Singing Angels, Sandro Botticelli and Workshop, ca. 1490]

Why does one group of friars have bare feet?

An undyed brown habit, a rope tied in three knots, and bare feet…these are three of the defining characteristics of the Franciscan monks’ traditional clothing. This reflects their embrace of a simple life and unattachment to material things. The artwork tells the story of a meeting between the founders of the two most important monastic orders in early Renaissance Italy. Saint Dominic recognizes the humble Saint Francis from a dream in which the Virgin Mary presents each of them to Christ. Their grasped hands are the focal point of the painting, framed by the church architecture, to emphasize the importance of the encounter ⛪️

[The Meeting of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis of Assisi, Fra Angelico, ca. 1427-1429]

When our visitors could be the masterpiece...

William-Adolphe Bouguereau's "The Broken Pitcher" was painted in 1891, and the figure of the young girl reflects the academic style of the time, with her clear form and realistic modeling. It is one of our visitors' (and our) favorite paintings, because of Bouguereau's skillful painting technique and ability to convey human emotion. But, did you know that rather than being a realistic snapshot of a young rural girl, this painting was actually highly idealized?

The 19th-century fashion was to depict rural life in a way that catered to the interests of the upper-middle-class art market, incorporating the sentimentality and subtle eroticism that appealed to the male gaze of the period.

📷: .claire

[The Broken Pitcher, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1891]

Happy Birthday to Adriaen van Ostade!

This Dutch Golden Age painter was known for his genre works, showing the everyday lives of the working class in 17th-century Holland. Genre painting illustrates scenes of ordinary people engaged in their day-to-day activities. These can include: eating, drinking, working, and leisure. And can take place in a variety of settings: markets, streets, inns, and homes. Surprisingly, these scenes weren't always true to life, but could also be idealized or imagined!

Do you think the scene is realistic, idealized, or completely made up? 🤔

[Drunkards in a Tavern, Adriaen van Ostade, 1640]

That feeling when... our curator uncovers five new Botticelli drawings 💅

While preparing for our latest exhibition ‘Botticelli Drawings,’ curator Furio Rinaldi took a deep dive into the techniques and styles used in previously unattributed Renaissance drawings. He realized there were striking similarities between a number of the sketches and the artist’s early paintings. The result? Rinaldi attributed five new drawings to Botticelli! (Really makes a case for the power of close looking) 👀

🔍 What similarities can you spot between these two artworks?

Follow the link in our bio to read how the mystery unraveled. Then visit ‘Botticelli Drawings’ and take a closer look yourself!

‘Botticelli Drawings’ is on view now through February 11, 2024.

[Head of a Woman in Near Profile Looking down to the Left, Sandro Botticelli, ca. 1468–1470. Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford, 0060 (JBS 44)]

[The Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist (“Madonna of the Rose Garden”), Sandro Botticelli, ca. 1465–1470. Musée du Louvre, Département des Peintures]

👋 And he's off! Today we say a brief goodbye to our 'Portrait of a Gentleman (traditionally called Giulio Gilardi)' as he heads out on loan to Gallerie d'Italia Milan for their exhibition about artist Giovanni Battista Moroni: 'Moroni (1521-1580): Il ritratto del suo tempo.'

[Portrait of a Gentleman (traditionally called Giulio Gilardi), Giovanni Battista Moroni, ca. 1550]

Our striking "Panel depicting a vase of flowers" is taking a break from the Legion galleries to make a special guest appearance in Los Angeles at 🌷

But can you guess what it's made of? Hint: the exhibition is about a single type of art material... 🌷

[Panel depicting a vase of flowers, Opificio della Pietre Dure, 1600-1650]

On this day, 201 days ago, the brilliant light of a full moon lit up the night sky. This bewitching painting was conjured up around the same time on the night of November 27, 1822. It encapsulates the essence of the season and gives a whole new meaning to "the witching hour" 🌝

Visit Gallery 17 to behold this spellbinding artwork up close. Who knows what secrets it holds under the enchanting light of this November moon…

Speaking on November moons, yesterday was also a full moon! Did you know that the lunar phases often repeat at the same time of year after almost exactly 19 years? This period of time is known at the metonic cycle 🌚

[A Cloud and Landscape Study by Moonlight, Johan-Christian-Clausen Dahl, 1822]

Leftovers: the unsung heroes of Thanksgiving.

[Five Sibyls in Niches: The Persian, Libyan, Delphic, Cimmerian and Erythraean, Sandro Botticelli, ca. 1465–1470, Christ Church, University of Oxford, © Christ Church Picture Gallery]

What would Michelangelo do? 🧐

In 1516, Pope Leo X tasked Michelangelo with creating the facade of the San Lorenzo Church in Florence. So how did Michelangelo go about this?

By meticulously sketching EVERY individual marble block on paper, obviously, including precise measurements ✏️

👀 Click the link to follow the adventures of one of these sketches across five centuries, on the long journey that carried it from Michelangelo’s hands to the Legion of Honor.

And come see the sketch in person “Drawing the Line: Michelangelo to Asawa” — on view through February 25, 2024.

Minimal Michelangelo: The Journey of a Sketch Even a simple sketch can tell many stories.

Shout-out to our talented visitor for sharing this beautiful sketch. We love seeing our galleries through your creative lens.

🧑‍🎨 What have you sketched in the Legion galleries?

📸 :

It's a full house today at Opening Day! 👏

Botticelli Drawings is the first exhibition ever dedicated to the drawings of Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Now on view until February 11, 2024.

Do you have your tickets yet? 👀

Uncovering the secrets of Botticelli’s drawings…

“Botticelli: Rhythm of the Line” brings a new perspective to the work of Renaissance artist, Sandro Botticelli. It traces his life and practice through the winding streets of Florence, revealing the central role drawing played in his art process.

"Botticelli Drawings" opens THIS Sunday, November 19 ✍️

The secrets of Botticelli’s drawings Bringing a new perspective on the beloved Renaissance artist, “Botticelli: Rhythm of the Line” reveals the central role that drawing played in Sandro Bottice...

Botticelli is one of the most famous artists of the Italian Renaissance 🎨 But did you know that isn't actually his name?

"Botticelli Drawings" opens THIS Sunday, November 19 ✍️

Five Things to Know about Botticelli Nicknames, secret messages, and a revolutionary act.

Happy Birthday Claude Monet 🎂

Your photos and videos of one of Monet's beloved "Water Lillies" paintings celebrate the French Impressionist painter best of all.

Keep sharing them with us! We love seeing his work through your eyes ✨

📹 :

Can you guess how old the museum is? 🤔 (No sneaky peeks online, please.)

Today is the Legion of Honor's birthday! 🎂 And next year is an even more special anniversary... we'll be looking back on its incredible history as we look forward to a very exciting future.

Our Curator in Charge of Costume and Textile Arts, Laura Camerlengo, found this photograph of the Legion during a research deep dive on 's digital database. It's likely from August 25, 1929, when a passenger-carrying German zeppelin flew over San Francisco, completing a transpacific flight from Japan! Chelsea Sellin and helped with identifying the photograph ✨ For more historic photos, visit .

🐚 Botticelli state of mind

It's almost time for Sandro Botticelli's drawings' debut!

"Botticelli Drawings" is the first exhibition ever dedicated to the celebrated Renaissance artist's drawings. It explores the role drawing played in Botticelii's work through hardly seen and newly attributed works. They give a rare look into the making of some of his most memorable masterpieces, including Adoration of the Magi (c. 1500), which will be reunited with its sketch.

Join us next Saturday 11/18 to celebrate with a one-day international symposium 🎉 Hear from scholars, curators, and academics on Botticelli’s art and design processes --including a conversation about fabulous hair ✨

"Botticelli Drawings" opens next Sunday, November 19 ✍️

A Symposium on Botticelli Join us for a one-day international symposium and hear from scholars, curators, and academics on Sandro Botticelli’s art and design processes. This program will include an introduction to the exhibition Botticelli Drawings organized by exhibition curator Furio Rinaldi, curator of the Achenbach Fou...

🩰 Twirling our way into World Ballet Day with a few highlights from our renowned theater and dance collection!

Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, the larger than life cofounder of the Legion of Honor, was friends with pioneering modern dancer Loïe Fuller. Through encouragement from their fruitful friendship, Alma collected sculptures, drawings, and designs for ballet and opera. She was particularly fond of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, and gave two gifts of theatrical designs for the ballet company to the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts in 1959 and 1962.

Since then, our curators have continued to acquire exciting works from throughout the history of ballet. 📲 Swipe through to see a range of works on paper spanning Alma’s original gift in 1962 to an acquisition made just this year! 💃

[Curtain design for the ballet “Le Soleil de Nuit,” Mikhail Feodorovich Larionov, 1915; acquired 1962]

[Set design with Giselle and Albrecht on stage for the ballet “Giselle,” Act 1, Alexandre Benoit, 1924; acquired 1962]

[F***y Cerrito in the ballet “Le Toreador,” Jules Bouvier the Elder, 1840; acquired 1993]

[Costume design for the ballet “Le Rêve de Léonor” (recto), Leonor Fini, 1949; 2023]

Ever wondered what it's like to be a museum conservator? ✨

Now's your chance to find out! Our conservation team is ready to answer your questions. Just drop your queries in the comments, and they'll provide insights on Ask A Conservator Day, November 3rd 💪

Watch — if you dare 😈 — to see some of our spookiest artworks. But be warned, you may never recover.

Feeling brave? Follow the link for even more spookiness 💀

Five of the Spookiest Artworks in Our Collection Skulls, candlesticks, and giant spiders, oh my!

Happy Birthday to Pablo Picasso 🎉 🎨

Picasso was a prolific creator and highly influential figure, playing a pivotal role in the art world of the early 20th century. His avant-garde approach, along with his bohemian lifestyle, left an enduring mark.

This painting shows a Parisian apartment with sunlight streaming in through a tall window framing the famed steeple of Saint Augustin off in the distance. In the distance is the suggestion of the famed steeple of Saint Augustin. We especially love how Picasso uses blue to give depth to his shadows.

What's your favorite part? 👀

[Steeple of Saint Augustin, 1919 © Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York]