Overdoor with Allegorical Male Figure c. 17th century

This overdoor with allegorical figures was made by Paolo Veronese, probably in Venice, sometime in the second half of the 16th century, using pen and ink with brush and wash on blue paper. The figures are reclining on a triangular pediment, a familiar feature of classical architecture. In Veronese's time, Venice was known for its humanist culture, centered on the rediscovery of classical literature, philosophy, and art. We see the male figure on the left holding a cornucopia, a symbol of abundance, and the female figure on the right with what appears to be a patera, a libation bowl used in religious rituals. The figures are not quite gods, but they certainly have an elevated status, and their state of undress suggests the antique. The drawing may have been made in preparation for a larger painting or fresco, possibly intended for a domestic setting. Art historians use drawings like this as evidence of the artist's working methods. Through careful research into the social and institutional context of artworks like this, we can begin to understand their original function and meaning.