Focus on this artwork and explore the Subject.
Originally this painting was meant to be of the Last Supper as a replacement for the painting by Titian of the same subject that perished in a fire. However, the subject was changed by Veronese after his trial before the Inquisition. The revised title refers to an episode in the Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 5, in which Jesus is invited to a banquet:"And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, 'Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?' And Jesus answering said unto them, 'They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'" (Luke 5: 29-32).The event taking place in this painting is when Christ announces that one of his disciples will betray him, which is suggested by the surrounding chaos. The painting is packed with figures and ornate Roman architecture, including a man with a nosebleed, multiple slaves, and drunken Germans. These figures were seen as inappropriate to include in a religious work of art. According to the Church, religious events should be portrayed as close to how they occurred as possible, without additions by the artist.
Inquisition Last Supper Jesus Gospel according to St. Luke Veronese banquet Titian Christ Roman architecture (Luke 5: 29-32)