Studie van een meisje, dat een grote schaal draagt (Salomé?) 1666 - 1704

Giovanni Battista Lenardi made this chalk drawing of a girl holding a large dish in Italy in the late 17th century. The tentative title suggests she might be Salomé, a biblical figure associated with a similar object. The image raises questions about the status of women, who were often associated with serving roles. The drawing also invites us to consider the politics of representation and power. During the Baroque period, art was frequently used to promote the interests of the Catholic Church and the ruling elite. Is this artwork intended to reinforce existing social hierarchies, or does it offer a subtle critique of the era's values? To better understand this work, further research is needed into Lenardi’s place in Roman society and institutional patronage. By exploring these questions, we can begin to unravel the complex social and cultural forces that shaped the creation and reception of this drawing.