Venice Enthroned with Justice and Peace
Dublin Core
Title
Venice Enthroned with Justice and Peace
Description
The painting Venice Enthroned with Justice and Peace is located on one of the ceilings of the Sala del Collegio in Doge Palace. As a result, you would be looking up towards this painting rather than straight ahead at it.
The image consists of Venice being enthroned, and dressed in extremely fancy and sophisticated clothing. She is represented by a prominent female figure, as that is how many artists during this time represented her in paintings. She is looking down below with two different female figures in between her that represent Justice and Peace, two of the most important systems of beliefs that were present in Venice. Justice is the figure on the left and she holds a sword at her hand representing strength and virtue while Peace is on the right hand side of the image holding onto an olive branch, which is a symbol for peace and victory. Below these two figures there is also a lion in the dark, which could represent the fact that Justice and Peace are overpowering strength and courage, as the angel figures are what is most important in the city of Venice. Finally, Justice also holds onto a scale, which symbolizes the idea of balance and equality that the city of Venice stands for.
This is one of many ceiling paintings, and it is significant for building up a message that is then reflected on the main wall of the palace to celebrate Doge Venier. The Doge Palace incorporated multiple ceiling paintings as a complement to the rest of the artwork. However, while this is a ceiling painting, it is extremely significant for representing the values and beliefs of the Republic of Venice. It was clearly a very fair and just time period, and the political allegory that is shown by this painting is a perfect representation of that.
The image consists of Venice being enthroned, and dressed in extremely fancy and sophisticated clothing. She is represented by a prominent female figure, as that is how many artists during this time represented her in paintings. She is looking down below with two different female figures in between her that represent Justice and Peace, two of the most important systems of beliefs that were present in Venice. Justice is the figure on the left and she holds a sword at her hand representing strength and virtue while Peace is on the right hand side of the image holding onto an olive branch, which is a symbol for peace and victory. Below these two figures there is also a lion in the dark, which could represent the fact that Justice and Peace are overpowering strength and courage, as the angel figures are what is most important in the city of Venice. Finally, Justice also holds onto a scale, which symbolizes the idea of balance and equality that the city of Venice stands for.
This is one of many ceiling paintings, and it is significant for building up a message that is then reflected on the main wall of the palace to celebrate Doge Venier. The Doge Palace incorporated multiple ceiling paintings as a complement to the rest of the artwork. However, while this is a ceiling painting, it is extremely significant for representing the values and beliefs of the Republic of Venice. It was clearly a very fair and just time period, and the political allegory that is shown by this painting is a perfect representation of that.
Creator
Paolo Veronese
Source
Veronese, Paolo (Italian painter and draftsman, 1528-1588) painters (artists). 1575-1578 (creation). Ceiling of the Sala del Collegio, View: full, Venice Enthroned w/Justice, Peace & the Lion of St. Mark. paintings (visual works). Place: Palazzo Ducale (Venice, Italy)Venice, Venezia, Veneto, Italy. https://library.artstor.org/asset/HUCB_SHARE_109913108135.
Paolo Veronese, “Venice Enthroned with Justice, Peace, and the Lion of Saint Mark,” Venetian Art, accessed September 14, 2020, http://library.bc.edu/venetianart/items/show/1819.
Veronese, Paolo. “Venetia between Justitia and Pax.” Accessed September 14, 2020. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/v/veronese/08/collegio/2ceilin2.html.
Gisolfi, Diana. "Veronese [Caliari], Paolo." Grove Art Online. 2003; Accessed 14 Sep. 2020. https://www.oxfordartonline.com/groveart/view/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000089003.
Paolo Veronese, “Venice Enthroned with Justice, Peace, and the Lion of Saint Mark,” Venetian Art, accessed September 14, 2020, http://library.bc.edu/venetianart/items/show/1819.
Veronese, Paolo. “Venetia between Justitia and Pax.” Accessed September 14, 2020. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/v/veronese/08/collegio/2ceilin2.html.
Gisolfi, Diana. "Veronese [Caliari], Paolo." Grove Art Online. 2003; Accessed 14 Sep. 2020. https://www.oxfordartonline.com/groveart/view/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000089003.
Publisher
Signoria of Venice
Date
1575-1578
Contributor
Rafael Salazar-Paranhos
Rights
© Loren Partridge
Format
Oil on canvas, 252 x 180 cm.
Type
Painting
Coverage
Palazzo Ducale (Venice, Italy)
Citation
Paolo Veronese, “Venice Enthroned with Justice and Peace,” ARTHIST 89S - Visual Culture of Venice - Fall 2020, accessed October 22, 2026, https://venice.dahvc.org/fall-2020/items/show/36.