Studies for an Ecce Homo c. 1565 - 1575

This drawing in pen and brown ink wash is a study for an "Ecce Homo" by Paolo Veronese, who lived in Venice in the 16th century. Ecce Homo, or "Behold the Man," is the scene from the Gospel of John when Pontius Pilate presents a scourged Jesus Christ to a crowd. The subject was popular during the Renaissance in Europe, representing both human suffering and the divine power of Christ. Veronese, a painter known for his grand, decorative style, would have been very aware of the religious, social, and artistic pressures in Venice at the time. He would have been thinking of the way his painting would be used to show religious power and influence, but at the same time showing the pain of humanity through Jesus. Studying this drawing gives us insight into the artist's process. You can see the different ways he thought about the face of Jesus, and how the crowd would react. The historian can use these images, along with historical documents, to understand the meaning of Veronese's art in its time.