One painting at a time: ‘Fortitude’ by Sandro Botticelli

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>One painting at a time: ‘Fortitude’ by Sandro Botticelli</title> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta name="description" content="Across centuries, from a gallery to my phone, here is a reminder to keep on keeping on"> <meta name="author" content="Alice Garnett"> <meta name="theme-color" media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" content="white" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="ie=edge"> <meta http-equiv="keywords" content=""> <meta http-equiv="author" content="Alice Garnett">  <meta property="fb:app_id" content="567020822115044" /> <meta property="fb:pages" content="160709211871" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/68148/one-painting-at-a-time-fortitude-by-sandro-botticelli" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Across centuries, from a gallery to my phone, here is a reminder to keep on keeping on" /> <meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Across centuries, from a gallery to my phone, here is a reminder to keep on keeping on" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/68148/one-painting-at-a-time-fortitude-by-sandro-botticelli" /> <meta property="og:title" content="One painting at a time: ‘Fortitude’ by Sandro Botticelli" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_preview/00f174c69785-botticlliheader.png" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="950" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="633" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="One painting at a time: ‘Fortitude’ by Sandro Botticelli" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_preview/00f174c69785-botticlliheader.png" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.google-analytics.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.google-analytics.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://connect.facebook.net" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://connect.facebook.net"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.facebook.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.facebook.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://certify.alexametrics.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://certify.alexametrics.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://twitter.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://twitter.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://getpocket.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://getpocket.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.reddit.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.reddit.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.schema.org" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.schema.org"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://hb.vntsm.com" crossorigin> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://hb.vntsm.com"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/68148/one-painting-at-a-time-fortitude-by-sandro-botticelli">  <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/prospect-180x180.28f7f41c97f38c37354794d5f60f9389.png"> <link rel="icon" sizes="192x192" type="image/png" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/prospect-192x192.003d52e5a92d9c0874c6e592f69b0947.png"> <link rel="icon" sizes="32x32" type="image/png" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/prospect-32x32.02860d246bab84114e485a056ffce946.png">  <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/SharpGroteskMedium19.613deb0d743237f2f3b3e80f93e2d065.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/SharpGroteskMediumItalic19.4fd821e52177287899ab0b3ff1044826.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/SharpGroteskSmBold18.c76b65659b941bd2b52a34474ede5a84.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameDeck-Bold-Web.ff4954b8f86a55e49dd57181b4889d75.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameDeck-Italic-Web.6e92e5eff247427952c6fed71b8ff1e0.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameDeck-Roman-Web.92d5cae1c0d98998c2643cf8f6475dd0.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameDeck-Semibold-Web.f5f7dfc20ec4cd7fed8d7083c532d76c.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameHead-Bold-Web.4a03f209a48971e08cc4d1e727addd0c.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameHead-Medium-Web.f562dc1bffc340b52be373ff1a446d4b.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameHead-Roman-Web.69f60818d238fd2057dd35434a88e0b1.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameHead-Semibold-Web.621f15b8eb26e23f13620634dace20ff.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameText-Bold-Web.62fc65fb024b950ea5164ffebca947a5.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameText-Roman-Web.2eaa9ca7930c82a4ab5291dd9bdbcfe1.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameText-Roman-Web-Dropcap.a3633ffff5aad515bd26b730aeb33384.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/assets/FrameText-Semibold-Web.1b357a238c9b4b45cd826cdcfbcf4dd3.woff" as="font" type="font/woff" crossorigin="anonymous"> <script> tp = window.tp || []; tp.push(["setAid", "UCq0myh1pe"]); tp.push(["setUseTinypassAccounts", true]); tp.push(["setUsePianoIdUserProvider", true]); tp.push(["setEndpoint", "https://api-eu.piano.io/api/v3"]); function startPiano() { (function (src) { var a = document.createElement("script"); a.type = "text/javascript"; a.async = true; a.src = src; var b = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; b.parentNode.insertBefore(a, b); })("//experience-eu.piano.io/xbuilder/experience/load?aid=UCq0myh1pe"); } //@ts-ignore tp = window["tp"] || []; var registrationTermId = "TMEOLBSKZTIA"; tp.push([ "init", function() { // Check if user is logged in //@ts-ignore if (tp.user.isUserValid()) { // Query API to get the list of conversions //@ts-ignore tp.api.callApi("/conversion/list", {}, function(listData) { if (listData.code != 0) { return; } var conversions = listData.conversions; // Go through user's conversions for (var i in conversions) { // Is current conversion happened on our registration term? if (conversions[i].term.term_id == registrationTermId) { return; } } // Create a conversion on registration term automatically //@ts-ignore tp.api.callApi( "/conversion/registration/create", { term_id: registrationTermId }, function(conversionData) { // Refresh access token cookie manually //@ts-ignore tp.user.refreshAccessToken(true, function(accessTokenList) { // All done, here you can close the offer or refresh the page //@ts-ignore tp.offer.close(); window.location.reload(); }); } ); }); } }, ]); window.startPiano = startPiano </script>   <script> (function (w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-KDLSRF8'); </script>  <script> componentsToLoad = ["MainLayout","ArticleHeader","ArticleTopics","PageFooter","HtmlSnippet","RelatedArticles","PageHeader","Article","ArticleAuthor","SocialShare","GenericSystemWidget","LegacyAudio","ArticleBodyImage","GdPicture","Fonts"] </script>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/9344.31d6cfe0d16ae931b73c.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/MainLayout.7341b10223955d05a9a5.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleHeader.d74a28b1fe1f068b151a.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleTopics.c33b19719b8c51ec6ae3.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/PageFooter.40412dc350358890e820.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/RelatedArticles.c95a2bacd5977c50d6f6.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/PageHeader.b492f7a36cb53859be91.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleAuthor.884f61209d6952cbd43a.css"></link><style ><style> .adstyle { width:auto; padding:20px; position:relative; } .adstyle:before { text-align: center; position: relative; display: block; content: "ADVERTISEMENT"; margin-bottom: 1rem; flex-basis: 100%; font-weight: 700; font-family: "SharpeGrotesque","Arial",sans-serif; color: #ACAFAF; font-size: 0.7em; } </style></style><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/SocialShare.4c29373b1faa8de03378.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/LegacyAudio.964d794f70d2352650eb.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleBodyImage.aeeaf50f99e3ea237de9.css"></link><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/Fonts.091b33cf1f48d1bd1285.css"></link> <script defer src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/runtime.317a8bbab5938c8734d4.js" ></script><script defer src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/main.cd0efb0694e683505fdb.js" ></script>   <script> document.cookie = "__adblocker=; expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT; path=/"; var setNptTechAdblockerCookie = function (adblocker) { var d = new Date(); d.setTime(d.getTime() + 60 * 5 * 1000); document.cookie = "__adblocker=" + (adblocker ? "true" : "false") + "; expires=" + d.toUTCString() + "; path=/"; }; var script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("async", true); script.setAttribute("src", "//www.npttech.com/advertising.js"); script.setAttribute("onerror", "setNptTechAdblockerCookie(true);"); document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script); window.addEventListener("message", window['onMessage'], false); </script> </head> <body class="no-js no-gutters">  <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KDLSRF8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript> <script>document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].classList.replace('no-js', 'js')</script> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row">  <script> !function(e,t,n,s,u,a){e.twq||(s=e.twq=function(){s.exe?s.exe.apply(s,arguments):s.queue.push(arguments); },s.version='1.1',s.queue=[],u=t.createElement(n),u.async=!0,u.src='https://static.ads-twitter.com/uwt.js', a=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0],a.parentNode.insertBefore(u,a))}(window,document,'script'); twq('config','o2y6v'); </script>   <script> !function(w,d){if(!w.rdt){var p=w.rdt=function(){p.sendEvent?p.sendEvent.apply(p,arguments):p.callQueue.push(arguments)};p.callQueue=[];var t=d.createElement("script");t.src="https://www.redditstatic.com/ads/pixel.js",t.async=!0;var s=d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}}(window,document);rdt('init','a2_fampu1fn2dw7');rdt('track', 'PageVisit'); </script>   <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <script async src="https://loader.bridged.media/bridged-agent.js"></script> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> </div><script type="text/javascript"> var _iub = _iub || []; _iub.csConfiguration = {"askConsentAtCookiePolicyUpdate":true,"cookiePolicyInOtherWindow":true,"countryDetection":true,"enableFadp":true,"enableLgpd":true,"enableTcf":true,"enableUspr":true,"floatingPreferencesButtonColor":"#FFFFFF","floatingPreferencesButtonDisplay":"bottom-right","googleAdditionalConsentMode":true,"lang":"en-GB","lgpdAppliesGlobally":false,"perPurposeConsent":true,"preferenceCookie":{"expireAfter":180},"siteId":3571124,"tcfPurposes":{"2":"consent_only","7":"consent_only","8":"consent_only","9":"consent_only","10":"consent_only","11":"consent_only"},"tcfVendors":"755","cookiePolicyId":80865508,"i18n":{"en-GB":{"banner":{"title":"Prospect Publishing Ltd values your privacy"}}},"cookiePolicyUrl":"https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/privacy-policy","privacyPolicyUrl":"https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/privacy-policy", "banner":{ "acceptButtonColor":"#D74A31","acceptButtonDisplay":true,"backgroundColor":"#FFFFFF","closeButtonDisplay":false,"customizeButtonColor":"#A9A9A9","customizeButtonDisplay":true,"explicitWithdrawal":true,"fontSizeBody":"10px","listPurposes":true,"linksColor":"#000000","ownerName":"Prospect Publishing Ltd","position":"float-bottom-center","rejectButtonColor":"#D74A31","rejectButtonDisplay":true,"showPurposesToggles":true,"showTotalNumberOfProviders":true,"textColor":"#000000","acceptButtonCaption":"Accept all cookies","customizeButtonCaption":"Manage cookies" }}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cs.iubenda.com/autoblocking/3571124.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.iubenda.com/cs/tcf/stub-v2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.iubenda.com/cs/tcf/safe-tcf-v2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.iubenda.com/cs/gpp/stub.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.iubenda.com/cs/iubenda_cs.js" charset="UTF-8" async></script> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;">  <script async src='https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js'></script>  <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { // 3 x banners for home and section pages with mapping var mapping1 = googletag.sizeMapping() .addSize([992, 0], [[970, 90], [ 728, 90], [ 468, 60], [ 300, 250], [ 1, 1]]) .addSize([728, 0], [[728, 90], [ 468, 60], [ 300, 250], [ 1, 1]]) .addSize([320, 0], [[300, 250], [ 1, 1]]) .build(); googletag.defineSlot('/21688349148/GPP_banner_1', [[300,250],[468,60],[728,90],[970,90],[992,0]], 'div-gpt-ad-7600949-1') .defineSizeMapping(mapping1) .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21688349148/GPP_banner_2', [[300,250],[468,60],[728,90],[970,90]], 'div-gpt-ad-7600949-2') .defineSizeMapping(mapping1) .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21688349148/GPP_banner_3', [[300,250],[468,60],[728,90],[970,90]], 'div-gpt-ad-7600949-3') .defineSizeMapping(mapping1) .addService(googletag.pubads()); // right hand col googletag.defineSlot('/21688349148/GPP_righthandcol1', [[300, 600], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1674469887004-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.pubads().setCentering(true); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script>  </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <nav id="props-header-main-menu" class="pros-global-navigation" data-configuration="{"bodyBackgroundColor":"#f0f0f0","alphaMenu":[{"id":296,"menuItemId":"ebi2zpFjr1","label":"Politics","description":"","menuId":38,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9338},"url":"/politics"},{"id":297,"menuItemId":"et7fJKjKW-","label":"World","description":"","menuId":38,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9302},"url":"/world"},{"id":298,"menuItemId":"eZF7xTHFcs","label":"Ideas","description":"","menuId":38,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10215},"url":"/ideas"},{"id":299,"menuItemId":"eI_5L4R_2j","label":"Views","description":"","menuId":38,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10216},"url":"/views"},{"id":300,"menuItemId":"eL4moPfKPq","label":"Culture","description":"","menuId":38,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9353},"url":"/culture"},{"id":301,"menuItemId":"eha_4-TkbN","label":"Latest issue","description":"","menuId":38,"url":"/issues/december-2024","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}},{"id":302,"menuItemId":"ebf9AdhvZx","label":"Podcasts","description":"","menuId":38,"url":"/podcasts","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}},{"id":303,"menuItemId":"eKpm5r0rmu","label":"Newsletters","description":"","menuId":38,"url":"/newsletters","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}}],"betaMenu":[{"id":154,"menuItemId":"elufKeAlmL","label":"Hide this label","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":245,"menuItemId":"eSqG14M_Lx","parentMenuItemId":"elufKeAlmL","label":"Latest issue","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/issues/december-2024","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{"id":"20976243059f-december-2024coverv2","url":"https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_medium_list_thumbnail/20976243059f-december-2024coverv2.jpg"},"taxonomy":{},"imageUrl":"https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/portrait_small_fit/20976243059f-december-2024coverv2.jpg"},{"id":293,"menuItemId":"eySAmohfEx","parentMenuItemId":"elufKeAlmL","label":"Newsletters","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/newsletters","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}},{"id":294,"menuItemId":"eTjTP27cNQ","parentMenuItemId":"elufKeAlmL","label":"Podcasts","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/podcasts","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}}]},{"id":153,"menuItemId":"evVbUXiYcV","label":"Sections","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":251,"menuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","parentMenuItemId":"evVbUXiYcV","label":"Politics","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/politics","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":527,"menuItemId":"eWKSE87aMR","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Election 2024","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10627},"url":"/politics/elections/general-election-2024"},{"id":256,"menuItemId":"euuLh7qTKs","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"England","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9647},"url":"/politics/england"},{"id":257,"menuItemId":"e79X5JP4IU","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Scotland","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9634},"url":"/politics/scotland"},{"id":258,"menuItemId":"eA2n5Hq1HP","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Northern Ireland","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9385},"url":"/politics/northern-ireland"},{"id":259,"menuItemId":"eaI53oI1Lr","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Wales","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10159},"url":"/politics/wales"},{"id":260,"menuItemId":"ezZMGiHA2w","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Constitution","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9461},"url":"/politics/constitution"},{"id":261,"menuItemId":"eJC_YVnZ-I","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Brexit","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9395},"url":"/politics/brexit"},{"id":262,"menuItemId":"emgZYh60iz","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Analysis","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9903},"url":"/politics/polling"},{"id":263,"menuItemId":"eWDsVpAdFD","parentMenuItemId":"eq3PsAcMrU","label":"Policy","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9463},"url":"/politics/policy"}]},{"id":252,"menuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","parentMenuItemId":"evVbUXiYcV","label":"World","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/world","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":264,"menuItemId":"eORmQ_DBlP","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"Environment","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9367},"url":"/world/environment-news"},{"id":265,"menuItemId":"evphpzH1OW","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"United States","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9304},"url":"/world/united-states"},{"id":266,"menuItemId":"evN54kcq9U","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"China","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9423},"url":"/world/china"},{"id":267,"menuItemId":"erSgK-3POJ","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"Europe","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9414},"url":"/world/europe"},{"id":268,"menuItemId":"erhr-mrFKk","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"Middle East","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9323},"url":"/world/middle-east"},{"id":269,"menuItemId":"eWmztno375","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"The Americas","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10221},"url":"/world/americas"},{"id":271,"menuItemId":"ePCRKRRYWm","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"Asia","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9397},"url":"/world/asia"},{"id":272,"menuItemId":"e2GNiuChk8","parentMenuItemId":"eLNMVRBOyD","label":"Africa","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9325},"url":"/world/africa"}]},{"id":253,"menuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","parentMenuItemId":"evVbUXiYcV","label":"Ideas","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/ideas","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":587,"menuItemId":"eEAbAjtaaa","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Top Thinker","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10722},"url":"/ideas/worlds-top-thinker"},{"id":273,"menuItemId":"e_5yDFZ9V2","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Philosophy","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9311},"url":"/ideas/philosophy"},{"id":274,"menuItemId":"ei_0MA2OCR","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Law","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9468},"url":"/ideas/law"},{"id":275,"menuItemId":"eCBRjsVv_J","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Technology","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9331},"url":"/ideas/technology"},{"id":276,"menuItemId":"e9O9phxyFm","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Media","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9361},"url":"/ideas/media"},{"id":277,"menuItemId":"eg6TiXPm6n","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Religion","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9370},"url":"/ideas/religion"},{"id":278,"menuItemId":"eEcJ5rsk4t","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Economics","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9318},"url":"/ideas/economics"},{"id":279,"menuItemId":"enupF6Hktr","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Business","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9328},"url":"/ideas/business"},{"id":280,"menuItemId":"epfm1A86gJ","parentMenuItemId":"ekxYAtGIix","label":"Identity","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9326},"url":"/ideas/identity"}]},{"id":254,"menuItemId":"efALgVnKlF","parentMenuItemId":"evVbUXiYcV","label":"Views","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/views","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":281,"menuItemId":"ecLwH7dbuV","parentMenuItemId":"efALgVnKlF","label":"Columnists","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9538},"url":"/views/columns"},{"id":282,"menuItemId":"eZeQuplykk","parentMenuItemId":"efALgVnKlF","label":"People","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10217},"url":"/views/people"},{"id":283,"menuItemId":"e8KOmmwGw7","parentMenuItemId":"efALgVnKlF","label":"Lives","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9797},"url":"/views/lives"},{"id":284,"menuItemId":"eRXkpqoDbw","parentMenuItemId":"efALgVnKlF","label":"Letters","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10218},"url":"/views/letters"},{"id":285,"menuItemId":"egFrjic6p7","parentMenuItemId":"efALgVnKlF","label":"Brief Encounter","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9457},"url":"/views/brief-encounter"}]},{"id":255,"menuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","parentMenuItemId":"evVbUXiYcV","label":"Culture","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/culture","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":286,"menuItemId":"eHZFestl1S","parentMenuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","label":"Books","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9437},"url":"/culture/books"},{"id":287,"menuItemId":"eVFmtBJA8I","parentMenuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","label":"Film","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9456},"url":"/culture/film"},{"id":288,"menuItemId":"eC6JakKi4c","parentMenuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","label":"TV","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9815},"url":"/culture/tv"},{"id":289,"menuItemId":"eHEE3-E7Rt","parentMenuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","label":"Stage","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9579},"url":"/culture/performing-arts"},{"id":290,"menuItemId":"eDbUv_DIDZ","parentMenuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","label":"Music","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9443},"url":"/culture/music"},{"id":291,"menuItemId":"eibJQQGdDC","parentMenuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","label":"Art","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":9394},"url":"/culture/art"},{"id":292,"menuItemId":"eV8u5_BbzI","parentMenuItemId":"e4WMy0CJqA","label":"Gaming","description":"","menuId":29,"widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{"id":10220},"url":"/culture/gaming"}]}]},{"id":155,"menuItemId":"ed3RIovl_e","label":"More from Prospect","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{},"children":[{"id":324,"menuItemId":"e7sjgpGaa7","parentMenuItemId":"ed3RIovl_e","label":"App","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/try-out-our-new-and-improved-app","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}},{"id":198,"menuItemId":"emIYUyKolt","parentMenuItemId":"ed3RIovl_e","label":"Policy Insight reports","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/special-reports","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}},{"id":246,"menuItemId":"eqZh9_WwRk","parentMenuItemId":"ed3RIovl_e","label":"Events","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/events","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}},{"id":295,"menuItemId":"epHDQgpXLm","parentMenuItemId":"ed3RIovl_e","label":"Past issues","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/issues","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}},{"id":441,"menuItemId":"eG8Xn4bwfL","parentMenuItemId":"ed3RIovl_e","label":"Commercial opportunities","description":"","menuId":29,"url":"/work-with-us","widgets":[],"colour":"#ddd","image":{},"taxonomy":{}}]}],"logoImage":"https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_grid_thumbnail/358ffc17208c-f4c3cddcdeda-prospect-masthead.png","userData":{"message":"User not signed in!","code":500,"error":true},"subscribeButtonUrl":"https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/bf24offe/prospect-magazine/bf24wb","subscribeButtonLabel":"Subscribe","pianoStatus":"anonymous","userLogged":false,"userSubscribed":false}"><div class="pros-top-level-menu js-main-tracking"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__section--width pros-masthead "><div class="pros-page-masthead-wrapper prop-page-wrapper"><div class="pros-masthead-logo-wrapper"><div style="width:fit-content"><a aria-label="masthead logo link" href="/" class="pros-masthead-logo-link"><img class="pros-masthead-logo-image" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_grid_thumbnail/358ffc17208c-f4c3cddcdeda-prospect-masthead.png" alt="masthead logo"/></a></div></div><div class="pros-masthead-cta-trigger"></div><div class="pros-masthead-cta-wrapper--regular header-logged-out"><div class="pros-masthead-cta-login">Log in</div><a href="https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/bf24offe/prospect-magazine/bf24wb" class="pros-masthead-cta-subscribe">Subscribe</a></div></div><div class="pros-main-menu-wrapper prop-page-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__list-hamburger-icon"><div id="menuToggle"><div><input id="menu-checkbox" type="checkbox" aria-label="hamburger menu"/><span></span><span></span><span></span></div><label for="menu-checkbox" class="checkbox-label">Menu</label></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__list-search-bar-icon"><span class="search-icon"></span></div><div class="pros-main-menu-items-wrapper"><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/politics" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Politics</a></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/world" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">World</a></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/ideas" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Ideas</a></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/views" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Views</a></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/culture" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Culture</a></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/issues/december-2024" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Latest issue</a></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/podcasts" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Podcasts</a></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><a href="/newsletters" class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Newsletters</a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pros-masthead-cta-wrapper header-logged-out"><div class="pros-masthead-cta-login">Log in</div><a href="https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/bf24offe/prospect-magazine/bf24wb" class="pros-masthead-cta-subscribe">Subscribe</a></div><div class="pros-menu-navigation"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__list-search-bar-wrapper"><form action="/search" name="search-form" id="search-form"><input type="text" name="q" class="searchTerm" placeholder="Search..."/><button type="submit" value="submit" class="searchButton"><i class="fas fa-search"></i></button></form></div><div class="pros-menu__list-content-wrapper "><div class="pros-menu__list-wrapper prop-page-wrapper"><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent has-child-image"><img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/portrait_small_fit/20976243059f-december-2024coverv2.jpg" class="pros-top-level-menu__link-img--column lazyload" alt="menu image"/><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Hide this label</div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-children"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/portrait_small_fit/20976243059f-december-2024coverv2.jpg" class="pros-top-level-menu__link-img--row lazyload" alt="menu image"/><a aria-label="third level link" href="/issues/december-2024">Latest issue</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/newsletters">Newsletters</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item grandparent"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">Sections</div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-children"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper parent"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/politics">Politics</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"><a href="/politics/elections/general-election-2024" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Election 2024</span></a><a href="/politics/england" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> England</span></a><a href="/politics/scotland" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Scotland</span></a><a href="/politics/northern-ireland" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Northern Ireland</span></a><a href="/politics/wales" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Wales</span></a><a href="/politics/constitution" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Constitution</span></a><a href="/politics/brexit" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Brexit</span></a><a href="/politics/polling" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Analysis</span></a><a href="/politics/policy" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Policy</span></a></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper parent"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/world">World</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"><a href="/world/environment-news" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Environment</span></a><a href="/world/united-states" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> United States</span></a><a href="/world/china" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> China</span></a><a href="/world/europe" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Europe</span></a><a href="/world/middle-east" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Middle East</span></a><a href="/world/americas" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> The Americas</span></a><a href="/world/asia" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Asia</span></a><a href="/world/africa" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Africa</span></a></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper parent"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/ideas">Ideas</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"><a href="/ideas/worlds-top-thinker" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Top Thinker</span></a><a href="/ideas/philosophy" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Philosophy</span></a><a href="/ideas/law" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Law</span></a><a href="/ideas/technology" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Technology</span></a><a href="/ideas/media" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Media</span></a><a href="/ideas/religion" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Religion</span></a><a href="/ideas/economics" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Economics</span></a><a href="/ideas/business" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Business</span></a><a href="/ideas/identity" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Identity</span></a></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper parent"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/views">Views</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"><a href="/views/columns" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Columnists</span></a><a href="/views/people" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> People</span></a><a href="/views/lives" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Lives</span></a><a href="/views/letters" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Letters</span></a><a href="/views/brief-encounter" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Brief Encounter</span></a></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper parent"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/culture">Culture</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"><a href="/culture/books" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Books</span></a><a href="/culture/film" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Film</span></a><a href="/culture/tv" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> TV</span></a><a href="/culture/performing-arts" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Stage</span></a><a href="/culture/music" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Music</span></a><a href="/culture/art" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Art</span></a><a href="/culture/gaming" class="pros-third-level-child"><span> Gaming</span></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-item"><div class="pros-menu__list-item-content"><div class="pros-menu__list-parent"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link ">More from Prospect</div></div><div class="pros-menu__list-children"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/try-out-our-new-and-improved-app">App</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/special-reports">Policy Insight reports</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/events">Events</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/issues">Past issues</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link-wrapper"><div class="pros-top-level-menu__link "><a aria-label="third level link" href="/work-with-us">Commercial opportunities</a><div class="pros-third-level-arrow"></div></div><div class="pros-third-level-children-wrapper"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></nav> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <style type="text/css"> .gpp-header-logo{ height: auto !important; width: auto !important; } </style> <script>history.scrollRestoration = "manual"</script> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <style> .tp-backdrop.tp-active { opacity: .2; } </style> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row"></div> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div id="piano_wrapper_collapsible"> <div id="piano_ribbon_collapsible_container"></div> </div> <style> #piano_wrapper_collapsible { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; z-index: 300000; box-shadow: 0 0 28px 0 rgba(0, 0, 20, 0.1); } </style> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div id="piano_blocking_banner_wrapper"> <div id="piano_blocking_banner"></div> </div> <style> #piano_blocking_banner_wrapper { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; z-index: 300000; box-shadow: 0 0 28px 0 rgba(0, 0, 20, 0.1); } .html--active { overflow: hidden; } </style> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row prop-page-wrapper"> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row prop-page-wrapper"> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row article-page-wrapper"> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-article-header"> <div class="pros-article-header__tag-wrapper" style="color: #D74A31" > <a href="/culture" class="pros-article-header__tag pros-background-color" aria-label="Culture header tag">Culture</a> </div> <div class="pros-article-header__inner"> <h1 class="pros-article-header__title"> One painting at a time: ‘Fortitude’ by Sandro Botticelli </h1> <h2 class="pros-article-header__short-headline"> Across centuries, from a gallery to my phone, here is a reminder to keep on keeping on </h2> <div class="justify-content-between no-gutters pros-article-header__more-info"> <div class=" pros-article-header__byline-wrapper"> By <a aria-label="Alice Garnett author link" class="pros-article-header__byline" href="/author/4335/alice-garnett" data-author-name="Alice Garnett">Alice Garnett</a> </div> <div class=" pros-article-header__publish-date-wrapper"> <span class="pros-article-header__publish-date">October 08, 2024</span> </div> </div>  <div class="social-share"> <div class="social-share-cont"> <div class="social-cont social-block-visible-" data-base-url="" data-article-id="68148" data-article-headline="One painting at a time: ‘Fortitude’ by Sandro Botticelli"> <div class="social-icon fb" title="Share on Facebook"></div> <div class="social-icon twitter" title="Share on Twitter"></div> <div class="social-icon linkedin" title="Share on LinkedIn"></div> <a aria-label="social share link" class="social-icon email" title="Share by Email"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="pros-article-header__image"> <div class="pros-article-header__img-wrapper" style="padding-bottom:%"> <img class="pros-article-header__img" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_preview/00f174c69785-botticlliheader.png" alt="article header image" > </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row pros-article-body-container"> <div class="gc-col-8 gc-row pros-article-body"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="fr-embedded"> <audio controls style="width: 100%;"> <source src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/files/file/gm-10249371-65c6-4f01-b472-f059968f51bc-audio-article-generative-an3lu6g6bs7b-68148.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"/> </audio> </div><p id="ex_6LFEo2u">The year is 2023 and I’m in the middle of a depressive episode that <em>almost </em>finished me off. My cat, Stanley—an affectionate orange tomcat we adopted when I was 12 years old has recently passed away. My Nan—who moved to Matlock when I was three to help raise me—is in the hospital, having just had a seizure. I am in Italy, fleeing my grief and tucking myself away in the rolling hills of Tarquinia.</p><div class='dfp-slot-0'></div><p id="eNHAHuRT1SF">It was October and I was there with two friends, weathering the emotional storm through sunshine and copious quantities of pasta. After spending most of our time around small towns and villages, gazing at all the Etruscan necropolises, we opted for a day in the city—specifically, Florence.</p><div class='dfp-slot-1'></div><p id="erVzzq_qjZ">I’d been on FaceTime to my Nan the night before, regaling her with Etruscan history. She looked back at me and nodded along from her bed. Every day I felt guilty that I was in Italy and not visiting her in the Edinburgh hospital she’d been sequestered to. But my family urged me to take the opportunity to go away—and assured me that there would be time to see her as soon as I landed back on British soil.</p><div class='dfp-slot-2'></div><p id="ewMgD70yGB">Unfortunately, no amount of pasta or Mediterranean sunshine could abate my gnawing depression, tinged as it was with impending grief. It felt as if my soul was sick and the prognosis far from promising.</p><div class='dfp-slot-3'></div><p id="eYkjz-Ogh9">Until, until… one day, my academic friends had some academic mission to fulfil, so I wandered over to the Uffizi gallery on my own. Unsurprisingly it was teeming with tourists, so I put in some earphones in an effort to keep myself in a grounded, self-contained bubble.</p><div class='dfp-slot-4'></div><p id="eLbElbua9Y">Florence and the Machine’s <em>Dance Fever</em>, one of my ultimate comfort albums, served as the perfect soundtrack as I floated between marble sculptures, allowing the crowds of tourists and statues to blur into one. Ancient and modern, all in one room. It’s that collision of time, unique to galleries, museums and historic cities that’s always drawn me to them.</p><div class='dfp-slot-5'></div><p id="etaQh7vSjCE">Eventually I found myself, by chance, in front of the <em>Seven Virtues</em>. A nearby plaque informed me that this series of tempera on wood panels was made to decorate a hall in the Palazzo della Signoria, next door to the Uffizi. On each panel is a feminine personification of three Christian values—Faith, Hope and Charity—and four worldly ones—Temperance, Prudence, Fortitude and Justice. Six were painted by Piero del Pollaiuolo, while one of them, <em>Fortitude</em>, was the first recorded commission of a then little-known artist called Sandro Botticelli, completed in 1479 when he was just 25.</p><div class='dfp-slot-6'></div><p id="eGbqImcUTTq">At the time I knew little of the art or the artist—and yet still I found myself drawn, instinctively, to the Botticelli.</p><div class='dfp-slot-7'></div><p id="emxEzNf5kn">Carving out a space for myself in front of her, I stared up at this formidably armoured woman holding a “rulers’ sceptre”, her feminine dress peeking out from between the chinks of her armour. I was struck by her face. While her dress and sceptre certainly signified strength, her expression seemed detached and ambivalent, her hands limp. Characteristic of Botticelli’s portraits of women, she was staring, languidly and with melancholy, into the middle distance. My own gaze then travelled down, where I caught first sight of her name. Fortitude! Resilience, strength, perseverance—all attributes I felt were beginning to wane within myself.</p><div class='dfp-slot-8'></div><p id="e-hh4gIxCK">I found comfort in the face of this woman, in her expression. She looked sad, gazing listlessly at nothing in particular. But she looked strong, too. She doesn’t <em>grip</em> her sceptre, as you might expect “fortitude” to do—she doesn’t appear ready to fight. Her stance is docile, neither offensive nor defensive. If I had to ascribe a more active verb to her (beyond “sitting” or “looking”), I would say she’s <em>withstanding</em>. And depression is something you withstand, endure—contrary to what people say about “battling” mental illness. You can’t “fight” what is happening inside your own mind and, to be honest, there’s rarely anything proactive one can do to “cure” a depressive episode. As I told myself, repeatedly, “the only way through is through”—and I got the sense that Botticelli’s Fortitude felt the same way.</p><div class='dfp-slot-9'></div><p id="ek0XpKOU1B6">Since that trip to Italy, I’ve had her as my lockscreen. How bizarre that a painting of that spiritual magnitude, steeped in that much history, has occupied the blue-lit rectangle that keeps me perpetually connected to the world.</p><div class='dfp-slot-10'></div><p id="ePubBU0JHg">Botticelli and his contemporaries could never have conceived of such things as a “lock screen”, or even a phone. But there she is, an old virtue mixed with contemporary life, a token of fortitude, serving as a reminder to keep marching on.</p><div class='dfp-slot-11'></div><div class="fr-embedded"> <p class="pros-article-body__img-wrapper center "> <picture class="gd-picture"> <img class="gd-picture__img gpp-article-body__img lazyload gd-picture__img--responsive" data-src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_preview/87c7a542ef10-botticelliinset.png" alt="“Fortitude” (1470) by Sandro Botticelli. Image: Uffizi"> </picture> <span class="pros-article-body__img-caption">“Fortitude” (1470) by Sandro Botticelli. Image: Uffizi</span> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-4 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-article-author-wrapper gd-frame"> <div class="pros-article-author"> <a class="pros-article-author-link" href="/author/4335/alice-garnett"></a> <div class="pros-article-author__image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" class="pros-article-author__image lazyload" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/3a9f5db41720-garnett.jpg" alt="Alice Garnett author image"> </div> <div class="pros-article-author__about">Alice Garnett is a 23-year-old writer based in London</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-related-articles__wrapper gd-frame"> <div class="pros-related-articles-title__wrapper"> <span class="pros-related-articles-title">Related articles</span> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles"> <a href="/politics/68617/tax-spendand-hope" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/0e3595b5dd0f-webbscollins.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Tax, spend—and hope </div> </a> <a href="/culture/art/68441/the-changing-art-of-protest-peter-kennard-barbara-kruger-trump" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/c686af5b25f2-swirskytop.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> The changing art of protest </div> </a> <a href="/culture/music/68431/tbilisis-underground-resistance" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/fa10192b8fcb-tbilisi.jpg" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Tbilisi’s underground resistance </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;">  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1674469887004-0' class="adstyle" style='min-width: 300px; min-height: 250px; margin:0 auto;text-align:center;'> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1674469887004-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row prop-page-wrapper"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-article-topics__wrapper gd-frame"> <div class="pros-article-topics" style="color: #D74A31" > <a href="/culture" aria-label="Culture topic link" class="pros-article-topics__item">Culture</a> <a href="/culture/art/painting" aria-label="Painting topic link" class="pros-article-topics__item">Painting</a> <a href="/culture/art" aria-label="Art topic link" class="pros-article-topics__item">Art</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div id="disqus_thread"></div> <script> /** * RECOMMENDED CONFIGURATION VARIABLES: EDIT AND UNCOMMENT THE SECTION BELOW TO INSERT DYNAMIC VALUES FROM YOUR PLATFORM OR CMS. * LEARN WHY DEFINING THESE VARIABLES IS IMPORTANT: https://disqus.com/admin/universalcode/#configuration-variables */ /* var disqus_config = function () { this.page.url = PAGE_URL; // Replace PAGE_URL with your page's canonical URL variable this.page.identifier = PAGE_IDENTIFIER; // Replace PAGE_IDENTIFIER with your page's unique identifier variable }; */ (function() { // DON'T EDIT BELOW THIS LINE var d = document, s = d.createElement('script'); s.src = 'https://prospect-magazine.disqus.com/embed.js'; s.setAttribute('data-timestamp', +new Date()); (d.head || d.body).appendChild(s); })(); </script> <noscript>Please enable JavaScript to view the <a href="https://disqus.com/?ref_noscript">comments powered by Disqus.</a></noscript> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-4 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-related-articles__wrapper gd-frame"> <div class="pros-related-articles-title__wrapper"> <span class="pros-related-articles-title">Related articles</span> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles"> <a href="/politics/68617/tax-spendand-hope" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/0e3595b5dd0f-webbscollins.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Tax, spend—and hope </div> </a> <a href="/culture/art/68441/the-changing-art-of-protest-peter-kennard-barbara-kruger-trump" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/c686af5b25f2-swirskytop.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> The changing art of protest </div> </a> <a href="/culture/music/68431/tbilisis-underground-resistance" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/fa10192b8fcb-tbilisi.jpg" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Tbilisi’s underground resistance </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-4 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-related-articles__wrapper gd-frame"> <div class="pros-related-articles-title__wrapper"> <span class="pros-related-articles-title">Popular in Culture</span> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles"> <a href="/culture/68644/julia-loktev-my-undesirable-friends-putin-russia-rain-tv" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/7107be2fd310-sukhdev01.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> How Putin kills the news </div> </a> <a href="/culture/68585/dexter-dalwood-english-painting-lisson-gallery" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/c49783e03316-dalwoodheader.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> What even is English painting, anyway? </div> </a> <a href="/culture/68529/green-day-trump-are-american-idiots-having-another-moment" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/cb68a789baf9-greendayimg.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Are American Idiots having another moment? </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-4 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-related-articles__wrapper gd-frame"> <div class="pros-related-articles-title__wrapper"> <span class="pros-related-articles-title">Listen to our podcast</span> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles"> <a href="/podcasts/media-confidential/68716/qa-lionels-wild-ride" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/4582e9d41f3a-landingpagefeatured.jpg" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Q&A: Lionel’s wild ride </div> </a> <a href="/podcasts/media-confidential/68678/trump-2.0-buckle-up-its-going-to-be-wild" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/4582e9d41f3a-landingpagefeatured.jpg" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Trump 2.0: Buckle up! It’s going to be wild </div> </a> <a href="/podcasts/prospect-podcast/68667/rachel-shabi-the-truth-about-antisemitism" aria-label="related article link" class="pros-related-articles__item"> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-image-wrapper"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/square_small_fill/e52d486d16a6-podimg.png" alt="related article image" class="pros-related-articles__item-image lazyload" /> </div> <div class="pros-related-articles__item-title"> Rachel Shabi: The truth about antisemitism </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12 gc-row"> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div class="pros-footer gd-frame">  <div class="pros-footer-top prop-page-wrapper"> <div class="pros-footer-top-logo"> <a href="/" aria-label="footer logo"> <img class="lazyload" loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_grid_thumbnail/912430b39857-prospectlogoregular.png" alt="footer-logo" /> </a> </div> <div class="pros-footer-top-menu-items"> <a class="pros-footer-top-menu-items__item" href="/about-us" aria-label="About us"> About us </a> <a class="pros-footer-top-menu-items__item" href="https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/242offer/prospect-magazine/242new?utm_campaign=autumnbausubsbutton&utm_medium=website&utm_source=website" aria-label="Subscribe"> Subscribe </a> <a class="pros-footer-top-menu-items__item" href="/contact-us" aria-label="Contact us"> Contact us </a> <a class="pros-footer-top-menu-items__item" href="/submission-guidelines-how-to-write-for-the-prospect-website" aria-label="Submission guidelines"> Submission guidelines </a> <a class="pros-footer-top-menu-items__item" href="/jobs-and-vacancies" aria-label="Jobs and vacancies"> Jobs and vacancies </a> <a class="pros-footer-top-menu-items__item" href="https://institutions.exacteditions.com/prospect-magazine" aria-label="Corporate subscriptions"> Corporate subscriptions </a> </div> <div class="pros-footer-top-social-icons"> <a class="pros-footer-top-social-icons__link" aria-label="Facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/prospectmagazineuk"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_list_thumbnail/1e0499963152-facebook-social-footer-bottom.png" alt="Facebook" /> </a> <a class="pros-footer-top-social-icons__link" aria-label="Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/prospect_uk"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_list_thumbnail/4a7539ee343c-twitter-social-footer-bottom.png" alt="Twitter" /> </a> <a class="pros-footer-top-social-icons__link" aria-label="Linkedin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/prospect-magazine"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/images/gm_list_thumbnail/451441c9a06a-linkedin-social-footer-bottom.png" alt="Linkedin" /> </a> </div> </div>  <div class="pros-footer-bottom prop-page-wrapper"> <div class="pros-footer-bottom-bar"> <div class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-edition-notice"> © 2024 Prospect Publishing Limited </div> <div class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items"> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/press-room" aria-label="Press Room"> Press Room </a> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/acceptable-use-policy" aria-label="Acceptable Use"> Acceptable Use </a> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/terms-of-use" aria-label="Terms of Use"> Terms of Use </a> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/contributor-terms-conditions" aria-label="Contributor Terms & Conditions"> Contributor Terms & Conditions </a> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/privacy-policy" aria-label="Privacy"> Privacy </a> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/complaints" aria-label="Complaints"> Complaints </a> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/work-with-us" aria-label="Advertise with us"> Advertise with us </a> <a class="pros-footer-bottom-bar-menu-items__item" href="/advertising" aria-label="Advertising Guidelines"> Advertising Guidelines </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> </div> <div class="gc-col-12" style="width: 100.0%;"> <div id="footer_spacer"> <div class="footer_spacer_block" style="margin-bottom:100px"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div id="social-share-data" fb-app-id="567020822115044"></div>  <script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/9755.210fdca1fe353732a55d.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/1257.b5b178f4be62f94ab25b.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/MainLayout.0e655715ddd558cd7fb4.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleHeader.9a4b3c85be324f0685ab.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleTopics.4157b28deca6597cba3d.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/PageFooter.7f94ea822a8abb0f6a83.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/RelatedArticles.b8d1e8ae517b28410672.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/1947.86b4c6d1e142b4ff4ed7.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/PageHeader.5a9efb7adf78c53703e0.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleAuthor.2bc07b4ea5d229d60c27.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/SocialShare.d362862004176449f07d.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/LegacyAudio.9251c67b07e44a1fd429.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/ArticleBodyImage.62fe77a68c35f088f73f.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/Fonts.e3b97845f47d81d5c323.js" ></script><script src="https://assets.prospectmagazine.co.uk/prod/Piano.8279a5e4dd425acf418e.js" ></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

One painting at a time: ‘Fortitude’ by Sandro Botticelli