The article is based on the observation that in Venetian paintings of the 18th century eyeballs are often conspicuously displayed. In completely different contexts – in mythological pictures as well as in religious paintings – eyeballs turn out to be a motif that can stimulate a reflection on vision. The contribution focuses on two artists: Antonio Balestra, who in numerous paintings depicted the scene in which Juno embellishes a peacock with the eyes of Argus, and Giambattista Tiepolo, who in his altarpiece for the Cappella Cornaro interprets eyeballs, the traditional attribute of Saint Lucy, in an innovative and provocative way.