Standing Youth Holding a Club (recto); Temptation of Adam and Eve (verso) 1435 - 1465

Domenico Veneziano made this drawing with pen and brown ink on paper in Florence during the early to mid-15th century. We see a nude male figure on the front and, remarkably, the Temptation of Adam and Eve on the back. The artist’s formal study is evident in the figure's careful articulation and classical pose, reflecting the growing influence of ancient art and culture during the Renaissance. Yet, it's important to remember that artistic training at this time was largely shaped by the guilds. These institutions controlled not only artistic production but also the circulation of ideas and techniques. Drawings like this were critical to an artist’s education; artists acquired skills, absorbed classical ideas, and prepared for future commissions. Veneziano's figures invite questions about the role of the male nude within the context of early Renaissance art. The presence of the Adam and Eve scene on the reverse adds another layer, asking us to consider how artists negotiated biblical themes with the renewed interest in the classical world. By studying archival materials and understanding artistic training, we gain valuable insights into the complex social and cultural landscape of the Renaissance.