Susanna and the Elders c. 1570s

This bronze plaquette, “Susanna and the Elders,” depicts a story from the Book of Daniel. We can see the beautiful Susanna surprised while bathing by two lecherous elders. The image creates meaning through a combination of biblical narrative, classical artistic conventions, and the social anxieties of its time and place, most likely 16th-century Europe. In Renaissance society, where female virtue was prized, the story of Susanna served as a morality tale and a warning against the abuse of power. The male gaze dominates the image, as the viewer is invited to share the elders' voyeuristic perspective. This raises questions about the politics of spectatorship and the representation of female sexuality. To fully understand this piece, we can research social history, religious texts, and art criticism. The meaning of this artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.