PALMA GIOVANE
(b. 1548, Venezia, d. 1628, Venezia)

Amusements of the Prodigal Son

1595-1600
Oil on canvas, 83 x 118 cm
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

Veils, sweetmeats, wine, caresses, fruit, and stolen kisses constitute the ingenuous youth's modest debaucheries at the table and the couch. In fact, thus was a very daring work in very strictly regulated times.