PAOLO CALIARI CALLED VERONESE, WORKSHOP OF
Verona, 1528 – Venice, 1588
The wedding at Cana
oil on canvas, cm 171×222
This painting is a magnificent reproduction of the famous painting The Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese (Verona, 1528 – Venice, 1588), one of the greatest Italian Renaissance painters. Painted between 1562 and 1563 for the refectory in the Benedictine monastery in San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, the original is now on display in the Louvre in Paris, after arriving in France in the late 18th century as part of Napoleon’s plunder.
The painting depicts a sumptuous wedding banquet illustrated with artistic flair. In the centre of the composition, Jesus Christ is recognisable by his halo, while the upper level of the painting makes way for the sky and scenic architecture, creating an evocative separation into two planes. The masterful use of colour and the elaborate use of perspective are distinctive features of this work, which exploits the multiplication of viewpoints to create an extraordinary visual effect.
The success of the work is demonstrated by the presence of numerous replicas, sought after by the aristocracy of the time due to the presence of contemporary characters. Moreover, copying was widespread in Paolo’s workshop, being characterised by practical activity and craftsmanship rather than by a “school” concept in the Renaissance sense.