Pasquale Cicogna in Dogal Robes Visiting the Church and Hospital of the Crociferi 

This painting captures Doge Pasquale Cicogna’s visit to the Church of the Crociferi, rendered by Palma il Giovane. The symmetrical composition draws the eye immediately to the Doge at its centre. Bathed in a raking light, the lavish robes establish a hierarchy in the painting. Giovane carefully balances a muted palette with accents of vivid colour, using it to emphasise the Doge's importance, and the theatricality of the composition adds to its dramatic impact. The repetition of figures arranged on the left and right sides of the Doge create a formal structure, while the architectural backdrop suggests a stage for this display of Venetian power. The artist uses semiotics by using costume and setting as symbolic language. Consider how the visual emphasis functions within Venetian society, where pageantry and the display of authority reinforced social structures. This painting isn't just a historical record; it is a careful construction of power and status.