The Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee

Paolo Veronese

Galleria Sabauda

DESCRIZIONE:
(first floor, room 12)
It is first of many paintings by Veronese showing biblical feasts, which was a specialist field for him, as demonstrated by examples such as The Feast in the House of Levi and The Wedding at Cana.
The work was commissioned in 1556 for the Monastery of Saints Nazarius and Celsus in Verona.
Due to its subject matter, it was supposed to go in the refectory. It shows the story from Luke 7: 36-50 of a sinful woman who approached Jesus as he ate and washed his feet, then dried them with her hair, allowing Christ to show the Pharisee that acts of love can bring forgiveness for sins.
In the scene, Veronese painted not only the many dinner guests in sumptuous clothes but also exquisite tableware, animals (including a parrot) and magnificent works of architecture in perspective.

LE OPERE