Who do you think the young woman in the painting represents? I think she represents America possibly because as she moves along with the animals and trains and people westward, she lights up the area, indicating the west is enlightened by american values.
Considering this, what represents Manifest Destiny in the painting?
This allegorical depiction of “Manifest Destiny” was painted by John Gast in 1872. In it a female spirit, related to the figure of Liberty, leads a march of pioneers and technological progress ever westward. In one hand she holds a “school book,” representing enlightenment; with the other she spools out telegraph wire.
| Study of a Young Woman | |
|---|---|
| Year | c. 1665–67 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 44.5 cm × 40 cm (17.5 in × 16 in) |
| Location | Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Consequently, why did Sandro Botticelli paint portrait of a young woman?
Sandro Botticelli
The lore says that the maestro was in love with the young beauty, but never quite being able to fulfill this loving desire as she was a married woman. It is said that he painted her image to resemble how perfect she was to him, rather than to show her real beauty.