Located in the Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy, “The Lion of St. Mark” was painted by the great Venetian painter Vittore Carpaccio in 1516. The lion stands with its front legs on dry land and rear legs in the water, symbolizing Venice’s power over land and sea. The Latin inscription in the book reads “Peace be with you, Mark, my Evangelist.” Behind the lion, we can see a detailed depiction of the Doge’s Palace, the Basilica of St. Mark and the famous clock tower in St. Mark’s Square. Buona visione!