The Blessed in Paradise with the Virgin and St. John the Baptist before God c. 1590

Lazzaro Tavarone created this drawing of the Blessed in Paradise with the Virgin and St. John the Baptist before God some time in the late 16th or early 17th century. It’s rendered in pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite. The multitudes of Paradise are arranged in hierarchical order around the Holy Trinity. Produced in Genoa, Italy, this drawing reflects the prevailing religious culture of its time. The Catholic Church was a major force in society, and its teachings permeated all aspects of life. Tavarone's drawing is typical of the period’s artistic engagement with religious themes, which served to reinforce the Church's doctrines and inspire faith among the public. Representations of Paradise also functioned as an encouragement to piety, at a time when the Church was experiencing the challenges of the Protestant Reformation. To fully understand this drawing, scholars consult a wide range of historical sources, from theological treatises to records of local religious practices. These resources allow us to reconstruct the cultural and institutional context in which Tavarone worked and to appreciate the drawing's significance.