New Exhibit: Iconography in Post-Reformation Italian Christian and Pagan Art
Decouvert Fine Art is pleased to participate in the Trois Crayons event, On Paper: Drawings from the Renaissance to the Modern Day Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas October and November 2026.
Our exhibit of drawings created in Italy between 1600 and 1755 explores the iconography of 3 important altars in Florence and Verona and one mysterious pagan subject. Simply put, iconography is the identification and interpretation of visual symbols. Viewing the works in galleries or on our site cannot recreate the experience of seeing them in sacred public spaces or church basilicas. Like the artists had to do, I invite you to use your imagination to engage these special works. Naturally, for those without imagination or curiosity, for whom symbols in any form have lost meaning, the experience might be frustrating. Others might be surprised, as I have been, by the personal engagement with these symbols that have held meaning for so many throughout time. Thanks to Julien Stock, Xavier Salomon, Miles Chappell, Elizabeth Pelliod, Timothy Standring, Jennifer Larson, Enrico Dal Pozzolo, Diana Gisolfi, and Isabelle Ostertag for their guidance in creating a fuller understanding of these drawings.. We’ve included their insights in the full descriptions accessed through clicklng the Learn More buttons. Thanks to the Trois Crayon team for bringing the exhibition to Texas to be experienced in person. Thanks to Amy Allen for creating this virtual experience.
VERONESE’S CLOSE CIRCLE
PROPOSED IDEA FOR THE LOWER HALF OF THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. GEORGE ALTAR IN BRAIDA
c. 1550–1560
Pen and brown ink and brown wash, heightened with white on blue paper laid down on Skippe mount
11 x 14 in. (281 x 355 mm); Framed 20 1/4 x 22 5/8”
CRISTOFANO (AKA CRISTOFORO) ALLORI
(Florence 1577–1621 Florence)
STUDY FOR NOBLE FIGURE IN THE DELL’ANTELLA ALTAR HEALING OF A MUTE, CRIPPLE MAN AT THE BASILICA della SANTISSIMA ANNUNZIATA, FLORENCE
c. 1600-1605
Red chalk on prepared paper
15⅜ x 10 ⅝ in. (390 x 270 mm); Framed: 24 1/4 x 19 1/2
GIOVANNI BENEDETTO CASTIGLIONE
(Genoa 1609–1664 Mantua)
TWO WOMEN APPEARING TO A WOMAN NEAR A BURNING ALTAR
c.1659-1662
Pen and sepia ink, with wash and brushed gray wash on cream laid paper
10.11 x 14.25 in (257 x 362 mm); Framed 22.5 x 19 in
CHARLES-JOSEPH NATOIRE
(Nimes 1700–1777 Castel Gandolfo)
STUDY OF LUCA GIORDANO’S ST. BERNARD’S APPARITION OF THE VIRGIN AND CHILD IN ST. LUKE’S CHAPEL, BASILICA della SANTISSIMA ANNUZIATA, FLORENCE
c. 1750-1755
Red chalk on paper
16 ½ x 10 ¾ in. (417 x 276 mm); Framed 26½ x 20 1/4