The Botticelli Killings

Chapter 5

5The huge painting hanging on the wall mesmerized all of those present. The host looked worried. He had received the large wooden panel representing Spring, as a gift from Lorenzo the Magnificent, the powerful cousin who became his protector after the death of his parents. There had been some big disagreements between the two men due to financial reasons that had escalated to legal arbitration. Once the matter was solved and to seal the renewed peace, the Magnificent had presented him with this extraordinary painting purchased years before from Botticelli. In the beginning, the gift had filled his heart with joy but then the murders came and ruined everything!

Filippino was the only one among those present who had still not found the courage to look at the implicated painting. Captivated by the refined splendour of the interior, he was admiring the innumerable and excellent literary and artistic works that Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco had adorned his old family house with, a palazzo in Via Larga, very close to the Magnificent’s residence. Filippino thought the young lord demonstrated an enormous taste for art and culture. He composed sonnets as well and could be considered the spiritual heir to the great and very cultured Lorenzo, the protector of all of the artists. Certainly, the Magnificent had achieved more success with the education of his cousin than with his own children. People had a reason to call him Lorenzo minor, and Filippino thought he deserved to be the protector of Sandro’s masterpiece.

Moreover, even Amerigo Vespucci had been hired by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco to manage the family estates, and was now living as a trustee in the beautiful house. No better place could be found than this to house the painting that had been conceived as a talisman for Amerigo’s voyage to the New World.

«Gentlemen, your attention please!» Lorenzo minor tapped a spoon repeatedly against his crystal glass until he had obtained absolute silence from his guests.

«Due to the extraordinary situation, Sandro Botticelli decided to gather the most restricted circle of the brotherhood here, as he is not only the Grand Master of us all who are «Loyal to the Lily», but is also the artist of this sublime masterpiece that I am proud to house in my home».

The guests, around ten of the most powerful men in the whole of Florence, turned their attention to Botticelli. He cleared his throat to mask his embarrassment and Filippino looked at him with affection. In his fortieth year he was still a handsome man, even though his eyes had lost some of their brightness. He combed his fingers through his hair, lightly streaked with gray, and started to talk.

«Gentlemen, the situation is becoming dramatic. I am sure the passionate sermons given by Girolamo Savonarola to the faithful of San Lorenzo’s parish still ring in your ears. I have never met someone like him, so capable of filling his sermons with the most terrible biblical prophecies and reference them to the present day so as to terrorize people».

«What has Savonarola to do with this situation?»

«Recently, in San Gimignano during the Lent Sermon, he announced punishment and suffering for all immoral behaviour. And you have probably heard of his sermon in the city of Brescia. He went so far as to prophesize the imminent coming of the Apocalypse to punish our immorality and restore decorum».

«You cannot possibly think Savonarola had three young rich women murdered to convince us, the people of Florence, that luxury and beauty are about to get their divine punishment?»

«He was certainly not the one to order these murders but I am certain he will make good use of them for his cause. Do you know anyone better skilled at manipulating the minds of people?»

«You are right about that. We shall have to put pressure on the Magnificent until he decides to send that monk away from Florence. But now, Great Master, please explain what these three murders committed by the monster have to do with this magnificent masterpiece of yours?»

«Three you say. The talk in the city is that with the recent murder of those three girls, the monster wanted to kill the three Graces portrayed in the painting. Those in educated circles who know my painting will have noticed the extraordinary similarity between the jewellery worn by the first two girls with those painted around the necks of the two Graces. The latest one, the third victim, was left with her breast and part of her back bare, just like Euphrosyne… speculation started in the higher realms and very quickly spread everywhere, even to the squares and the taverns. I am sure that if we do not solve this mystery I, myself, run the risk of being accused by the people!»

«No, no, just because the monster took his inspiration from your three graceful characters!»

«I am afraid the perpetrator of these three murders is responsible for other nefarious acts as well. There were four other atrocious killings about ten years ago, when my pupil and I began work on the painting. At that time, we already suspected that those deaths might be connected in some way. Unfortunately, I was the one who started the damned game by reproducing some of the details from those murders in the painting as I was working on it!»

«What? Are you saying that your painting was inspired by the murders of the monster? And that you did it as a game?» exclaimed Lorenzo minor daring to speak the thought that was upsetting to all present.

Clearly ill at ease and very aware of his fame of being a jester, Botticelli, quickly explained the real reasons behind an act that risked looking like a joke in very bad taste.

«No, no, just a few details: the circlet of flowers around the neck of Spring, the twig in bloom in the mouth of the nymph Cloris and the red cloak draping the Goddess in the centre of the scene. I let myself be affected by what seemed to be the ritualistic components of those murders. But please do not judge my behaviour as a depraved game of some kind: my only intention was to portray and document everything that was happening in our city at the time. Including that brutal, aggressive and bestial intent to annihilate women, right at the very same time I was intent on celebrating the feminine essence that animates the Universe, with my painting».

None of the guests dared comment, all deeply shaken by the evident distress in the Master’s voice.

He continued, «Then, suddenly the murders stopped. During the years of respite, even my painting was kept hidden and unfinished for personal reasons, which are all well known to you. When I found the strength to finish it, and it went to its legitimate owner the Magnificent, the painting was exhibited publicly for the first time».

«Do you mean to say that after that the mysterious murders started again?»

«Exactly, I think that the killer, or the killers, saw my painting and recognized their brutality. Then they decided to complete their work as well».

«But that is nonsense, surely!»

«With these last three murders seven of the figures in the painting have been killed. But there are eight characters in all. Apart from the newborn Cupid, who I do not think can be involved, only one is still missing: the man on the right. Is he going to be killed next so as to complete the m******e of my painting? I am afraid so and I fear the next victim will be a man».

«Your painting is truly wonderful and full of mysteries. Come now, you must reveal its title to us at least! And if you do not explain the hidden meaning to us, how can we begin to understand the intention of this monster? How can you state that the murderer could be meaning to act again and that his victim will be a man next time? Did you not say that he prefers to kill women? He may have decided to go after the female characters in another painting. Perhaps of another artist», objected Lorenzo minor.

«Thank you for your praise of my painting. Not wishing to appear presumptuous I must stress that I could never have painted it without the inspiration of Amerigo’s project». Amerigo Vespucci acknowledged Botticelli’s words with a slow nod, as the artist continued, «and not without the support of the awesome painter that you all know». He raised both arms outstretched towards Filippino Lippi, «given our intimate connection with the painting, I am worried for them as well as myself. I am afraid the monster might choose one of us as his next victim. And in any case, regarding the fact that a man is going to be killed, I do not think you have any doubts either, do you Filippino?»

Filippino bowed his head a moment to hide the emotion that a compliment from the Master would cause, even now. It was certainly not because of any fear of being the next victim. None of the three of them were in any danger, he was almost sure of that, and soon he would be able to prove it.

However, before revealing the state of things, he needed Franceschetto to carry out the task he had been given. For the moment he simply said: «I agree with you, Master. I had the same feeling you did when I read the message found upon the body of the poor girl, a message that you had delivered to me immediately. The killer wrote of a certain divine caduceus, which disbands the clouds. In fact, there is a caduceus in our painting, precisely in the hands of the only male figure. All of you can see it, at the bottom on the left». Filippino had his head bowed while speaking, his eyes almost closed, the painting being so clearly impressed in his mind. «Can you see? Mercury is holding a staff with wings and two snakes twined around it and is using it to chase the clouds from the idyllic landscape. Yes, it is true. I have considered that with his message the killer alluded to the last figure in the painting left for him to kill, and that final figure is a man. But there may also be another explanation».

He finally raised his head, his eyes focussed intently on the painting. His gaze captured by the orange grove, the flowering lawn, the myrtle bush crowning the woman in the middle, generally identified as Venus. On the right, in the foreground, instead, was Simonetta, the true Venus for Sandro, her lips parted in a tempting smile. That smile! This was already the tenth anniversary of her death, and ten years ago the light had left his Master’s eyes too.

The perfect shape of the model was hidden and highlighted by a dress woven with little flowers. And there she was again, veiled and bejewelled, dancing in circle with two other graceful ladies. Next to them, his profile turned to the west and with his right index finger pointing upwards while holding the notorious caduceus, stood a very handsome man. To paint him they hired an illustrious model: the young and muscular Leonardo who had posed for them once, even though he was a great artist himself. He felt tears rolling down his cheeks and in that moment realized that those had been really happy days, even though he had not been conscious of it at the time. He returned to contemplating Simonetta’s face while his mind wandered back to those spring days, many years ago, when a series of murders began to ruin so much happiness.

She is fair skinned unblemished white,

And white is her garment,

Though ornamented with roses, flowers and grass

The ringlets of her golden hair

Descend on a forehead humbly proud.

The whole forest smiles about her

And, as it may, lightens her cares

In her movements she is regally mild,

Her glance alone could quit a tempest.

(AGNOLO POLIZIANO, The Stanze, n. 43, 15th CENT.)