Veronese - San Rocco - Cividale

Paolo Veronese (1528-1588) was an Italian Renaissance painter known for his large-scale religious and historical paintings, as well as his decorative frescoes and ceiling paintings. He was born in Verona, Italy, and trained with his father, a stonemason and sculptor. Veronese moved to Venice in the 1550s, where he quickly gained a reputation for his dramatic use of colour and composition. Veronese's most famous works include 'The Wedding Feast at Cana', a massive painting depicting the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine, and 'The Triumph of Venice', a ceiling painting in the Doge's Palace celebrating the power and glory of the Venetian Republic. Veronese was also renowned for his portraits, which captured the elegance and refinement of the Venetian aristocracy. Despite his success, Veronese was not without controversy. In 1573, he was summoned before the Inquisition for allegedly including inappropriate elements in The Last Supper, such as dogs, dwarves and German soldiers. Veronese's defence was that he was simply following the artistic tradition of including contemporary elements in historical scenes. In the end, he altered the painting to satisfy the demands of the Inquisition. Veronese continued to work in Venice until his death in 1588. His legacy as one of the great masters of the Venetian Renaissance lives on through his stunning paintings and lasting influence on art history.