Seated Female Figure (Saint Scholastica?) Holding a Dove n.d.

Curator: Looking at "Seated Female Figure (Saint Scholastica?) Holding a Dove" by Lazzaro Tavarone, created in black chalk, charcoal, and ink, I am immediately struck by the skillful handling of the various media used to render form and texture. Editor: There's a gentleness about it, isn't there? Despite the starkness of the black chalk and charcoal, the image feels rather serene and contemplative. That dove really softens the composition. Curator: Yes, the dove certainly holds symbolic weight, and I suspect that's what drew you in! We believe this drawing could be of Saint Scholastica, the twin sister of Saint Benedict, whose attributes often include a dove. Notice how Tavarone rendered the folds of her garments—it speaks to a system of workshop practices which employed drawings to demonstrate mastery. Editor: Absolutely. The dove, of course, represents peace, the Holy Spirit, and in some Christian traditions, the soul itself. Holding the dove suggests purity and devotion. There’s also a clear dialogue with earlier depictions of female saints in earlier painting; it’s interesting to see those symbols recycled across different artistic periods. Curator: Indeed. What interests me is the tangible process evident in every line, the push and pull of the media itself. The drawing shows Tavarone experimenting and perfecting his composition and the way these sketches allowed art production and patronage to flourish in Genoa at the time. Editor: Thinking about the dove further, it may also represent her connection to her brother, Saint Benedict, because in many depictions of her passing, it is said that her soul ascended to heaven like a dove, demonstrating devotion to a sacred lineage, a powerful image that reinforces the divine and fraternal bond. Curator: I appreciate how you connect it to a broader understanding of Saint Scholastica’s symbolic weight, highlighting an alternative approach in understanding the devotional economy of artistic production at this time. The raw, unfinished quality offers insight into the methods that facilitated the cultural perception of divinity through art. Editor: It does indeed offer insight into Tavarone's thinking, or at least, his visualization, of spiritual significance. The cultural memory is so tightly woven into the symbolism; there is so much to unpack! Curator: This layered meaning, interwoven with its very making, expands our appreciation of the drawing. Editor: Yes, seeing it now, it offers such rich perspectives. Thanks to our insights, the artwork reveals so much about our shared understanding and devotion of art!