Three Philosophers 

Vittore Carpaccio made this pen and brown ink drawing called "Three Philosophers," sometime in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century, in Venice. The image hints at the humanist culture developing in the Italian Renaissance, as scholars began to study classical philosophy and literature. We might consider, too, the historical associations of Venice as a hub of trade between Europe and the East. The turbans worn by two of the men suggest that Carpaccio was familiar with Islamic cultures. But we should also note the function of drawings like this within the institutions of art. Was this study made in preparation for a painting? Was it a demonstration of skill intended to attract patrons or students to Carpaccio’s workshop? Careful study of the artist’s biography and the cultural history of Venice can shed light on the social conditions that shaped the production of this image. By combining these approaches, we can better understand the public role of art in the Renaissance.