Sketches for the birth and death of Adonis 1580 - 1583

Curator: Paolo Veronese crafted this collection of sketches titled, "Sketches for the birth and death of Adonis," sometime between 1580 and 1583. It's rendered in ink on paper. The work now resides at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: It feels fragmented, raw. The strokes are incredibly kinetic. You can sense Veronese searching, figuring out his composition. The multiple vignettes feel a bit chaotic, almost violently so. Curator: Considering the chosen medium—pen and ink on paper— the gestural quality aligns with preparatory sketches for a larger history painting. We are given insight into the artistic process itself. What labor goes into these masterful paintings, and what kind of material studies were made? Editor: Right, the sketches give insight into the stories that are constructed around mythologies. Look how the narrative unfolds with the birth at the top of the sheet and culminating at the bottom with what appears to be the mourning of Adonis. It's as though Veronese anticipated how we might interpret time through an embodied process of artistic development. Curator: Notice Veronese’s use of line weight, strategically applying it to suggest depth and volume. It showcases the material practice used in preparation for paintings by Veronese. It also indicates the presence of the Renaissance workshop system of artistic production. Editor: These raw marks feel quite contemporary. By laying bare both Adonis’ birth and death—creation and destruction—in a single sheet, there's an invitation to reconsider traditional narratives through the lens of temporality. Adonis is also emblematic of the historical treatment of the body and masculinity through the narrative of rebirth. Curator: These working sketches really illuminate Veronese’s method for crafting monumental works. They are a testament to the power of material exploration and its role in artistic innovation. Editor: They humanize these larger-than-life stories, placing us in a continuum of historical moments while reframing myth through the contemporary experience. Thank you for illuminating the artistic development, labor and context.