5 MAY 1979, Page 21

Unfair to Botticelli

Sir: I must protest against your cartoon insult to Botticelli and Mrs Thatcher. 'The Birth of Venus' is Botticelli's masterpiece. It commemorates the legend that a god had his testicles cut off and thrown in the sea creating a foam from which Venus was born With the help of zephyrs blown by other 8(3ds. Bottieellildepicted Venus not as a sex symbol but as a heavenly beauty to inspire the noblest spirit in man. I deplore but cannot stop your insulting Mrs Thatcher, but please stop your cartoonist denigrating Botticelli. Nicholas Davenport 44 Markham Square, London SW3