God the Father with the Dove, Two Putti and a Nimbus of Cherubim 

Palma Vecchio rendered this drawing of God the Father with the Dove, two putti and a nimbus of cherubim in pen and brown ink, with brown wash, over black chalk, on blue paper, in Venice, Italy, around the early 16th century. Celestial imagery had a vital public role in this highly religious society, especially for institutions such as the Church. The image constructs meaning through established visual codes and cultural references. We see God the Father surrounded by cherubim, the dove representing the Holy Spirit, and putti, all of which were conventional visual representations of divinity during the Renaissance. The geography of Venice, a city built on water, may have encouraged an interest in the heavens and otherworldly realms. This drawing, like many of the time, served to reinforce the dominant religious beliefs and social structures, supporting the established order rather than critiquing it. The interpretation of art such as this relies on historical research, including theological texts and social histories that are essential resources in helping us to understand the place of art in its social and institutional context.