Susannah and the Elders
Paolo Veronese·1580
Historical Context
Veronese's Susannah and the Elders from around 1580-1585 depicts the virtuous Susannah spied upon by two lecherous elders, a popular biblical subject that combined moral narrative with the display of female beauty. Veronese's treatment emphasizes the heroine's dignity over the voyeuristic elements. The Palazzo Bianco's version of this subject shows Veronese treating the voyeurism narrative with his characteristic elegance, the moral weight of the story carried lightly within a composition of sensuous beauty.
Technical Analysis
The luminous rendering of Susannah's flesh and the rich garden setting demonstrate Veronese's warm, elegant palette, with the lurking elders discreetly placed to maintain the scene's refined decorum.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice how Veronese stages this scene of "Susannah and the Elders" with the theatrical grandeur and luminous color that defined Venetian Renaissance painting.
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