The model for the painting (disputed by some historians) was allegedly Simonetta Vespucci (née Cattaneo), a renowned beauty in Florentine high society whom Botticelli greatly admired.
—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 Nov. 2026
The evidence is intriguing but not conclusive, historians caution; Jones was a common name, and the records do not definitively establish his role.
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.