The Pazzi conspiracy failed because of a lack of support from the people. The excommunication was inflicted on the Medici family for the hanging, amongst other things, of the archbishop Francesco Salviati. It should be remembered that Botticelli was given the task of painting the hanging and that it was then thought that the conspiracy had been organised, and after abandoned, by Lorenzo himself in order to eliminate his own brother, Giuliano. Cristina Acidini Luchinat in her book Botticelli, mythological allegories, Milan 2001, pages 14-15 stated that from 1470-80  life in Florence was far from idyllic and there was little to inspire works such as the Primavera.

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