The Martyrdom of Saint Justina 1575

Paolo Veronese made this drawing of the martyrdom of Saint Justina with pen and ink, heightened with white, on paper. The theatrical composition invites questions about the public role of art in Venice during the 16th century. The image creates meaning through a visual code, typical of the Counter-Reformation. The heavenly host above, contrasted to the violence being enacted below, reinforces the political ideology of the time. Venice was a powerful independent state, but its art was often commissioned by religious orders seeking to reaffirm Catholic doctrine. The drawing's blend of religious fervor and civic pride exemplifies the complex relationship between art and power. To understand it better we might consider how it operates within the broader social and institutional context of Venice. We can research the patronage networks that supported artists like Veronese, and the specific religious and political agendas that shaped their work.