Susanna’s dangerous beauty

Dramatisations of Susanna’s fate focus on the court proceedings. The text always emphasises her piety and faithfulness, as well as God’s just nature. None of this is to be found in Tintoretto’s work.

Instead he shows us a naked woman in complacent self-examination and 2 male voyeurs in the front and back of the scene. Aesthetic and erotic pleasure with a taste of the forbidden is on the menu here, not a lecture on morals. Tintoretto furnishes his Susanna with Venus attributes: pearl earrings, pearl bracelets, pearls on her crimson corset and a pearl necklace next to the ring she has taken off.

The artist has transformed chaste Susanna into a love goddess, taking a break from drying off to stroke herself lasciviously. This woman is aware of her beauty and gazes in satisfaction at her image in the mirror.