Honor, in the ancient manner, with people around who offer incense and make sacrifice

Veronese painted this allegorical scene of ancient sacrifice around 1558, during the period when he was establishing himself as Venice's supreme decorator of palatial interiors. The subject — figures offering incense in the classical manner — belongs to the tradition of painted allegories that adorned the ceilings and walls of Venetian palazzi and civic buildings. Veronese's archaeological approach to ancient costume and ritual reflects the humanist culture of his patrician patrons.

Silvery palette with passages of brilliant color in the drapery typifies Veronese's mature decorative style. Figures are arranged in a dynamic compositional rhythm suited to viewing from below, with foreshortening calibrated for an elevated installation.