The Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee (Veronese, Turin)
Paolo Veronese·1565
Historical Context
Veronese's Feast in the House of Simon from around 1565-1570 belongs to his famous series of monumental banquet scenes. These grandiose compositions, blending sacred narrative with Venetian aristocratic pageantry, provoked scrutiny from the Inquisition but remained enormously popular. These monumental banquet scenes brought Veronese before the Inquisition in 1573 for the supposedly inappropriate content of his Last Supper, which he famously renamed to avoid controversy.
Technical Analysis
The elaborate architectural setting and richly costumed figures create Veronese's characteristic spectacle of Venetian splendor, with warm, luminous colors and masterful perspectival recession.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice the elaborate architectural setting creating Veronese's characteristic spectacle of Venetian splendor, with warm, luminous colors and masterful perspectival recession.
- ◆Look at the richly costumed figures blending sacred narrative with Venetian aristocratic pageantry — the format that brought Veronese before the Inquisition in 1573.
- ◆Observe how this monumental banquet scene from around 1565-1570 in Turin prefigures the controversial Last Supper that Veronese famously renamed to avoid scandal.
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