Art Analysis "Feast in the House of Levi" by Paolo Veronese

(Veronese, Paolo Feast in the House of Levi, 1573)

Background:

   The Feast in the House of Levi is an oil on canvas painting that measures 18' 3" x 42' currently located in the Academy of Fine Arts Museum in Venice, Italy. It depicts a Last Supper scene with Jesus and the twelve Apostles dining within a Venietan restaurant. The restaurant is filled to the brim with a variety of other customers, servers, and even animals. The work is very humanist as there is a lively aura to the patrons playfully eating and chatting, and it sets the biblical figures in such a normal setting. The buildings are three-dimensional and realistically sized and shaped. The painting uses techniques such as non-linear perspective and integrates classical architecture. 

    It was commissioned in 1573 by the convent of Saints Giovanni e Paolo to Paolo Veronese to replace Titian's The Last Supper (1542-44) after it burned down (Art Story). It was made as part of the Counter-Reformation period, as Catholics reaffirmed their way of faith in the face of protestants. It was initially named The Last Supper but its unconventional setting, depiction, and character brought the ire of the Inquisition upon Veronese. They questioned him thoroughly about the characters depicted, asking why he included buffoons, German drunks, dwarfs, dogs, weapons, and other silliness with Jesus (Harris and Zucker). Veronese simply retorted that there are certain creative liberties an artist can make while painting and that the canvas was so massive that he needed to fill it with a variety of figures. Eventually, they settled on changing the title to The Feast in the House of Levi instead of repainting parts of it.

Personal Connection:

    I'm not personally connected to this piece very much. I think it's masterfully painted and I think the setting is quite comical. Jesus normally isn't painted nonchalantly dining in a 16th-century Venetian restaurant. The painting's realistic setting and lively crowd make one feel like Jesus could be casually dining with them. I can feel the energy of the crowd lift off the painting, it feels like they're having a good, possibly rowdy, time. The inquiry of Veronese by the Inquisition also makes the painting more interesting. 

Art Elements:

Color: 
    Veronese excellently uses colors to draw focus to the figures and create a realistic atmosphere in the restaurant. Jesus and the twelve apostles are brightly lit in the center, and their vibrant mono-colored clothes differentiate and emphasize their divinity over the other figures. The other customers are also colorfully dressed. They wear opulent, multicolored garments, which helps ground the event in a realistic place that Veronese was used to seeing, a fancy Venetian restaurant. There's also a gradient of red in the clothing that grows richer towards Christ in the center to help focus viewers' eyes upon him (Art Story Contributors).
    The background and foreground are muted in color compared to the figures Veronese uses atmospheric perspective to give depth to the city. The background sky is dark and blurry, and the buildings are brighter but also hazy, which makes the background out of focus and a viewer's attention. The foreground's colors are also muted. The marble pillars and staircase are painted in dull whites and greys to look realistic. The orangish walls are dark, and the statues within catch the light are pale. 

Shape:
    There are a variety of shapes depicted, from the rigid columns to the chaotic silhouettes of the figures. The most prominent shape is the three arches over the figures that help break the scene apart, similar to a triptych (Harris and Zucker). It separates the Last Supper scene from the customers of the restaurant. the blocky and rigid staircase, columns, and background buildings elicit a sense of structure and control to the city, which in turn makes it more realistic. While the figures are in chaotic silhouettes, they're rowdily dining and conversing, almost to the point of revelry. It makes the restaurant feel more alive and lived in like one could step into the restaurant and converse with the Apostles themself. 

Space: 
    There is a massive juxtaposition of spacing in this painting. The people are very enclosed and crowded together, which gives off feelings of warmth and community. They are shifting around and leaning towards each other. While the arches create a lot of negative space. Which creates an equilibrium with the density of the crowd. The greatest negative space is in the center, above the Christ and Apostles. Which helps separate them from the other patrons and the setting itself. At the same time, the side arches are filled with background buildings, which connects the patrons with their setting and helps ground them in realism. 

Works Cited:

The Art Story Contributors. “Paolo Veronese Artist Overview and Analysis.” Edited by Antony Todd, The Art Story, 20 Nov. 2018, www.theartstory.org/artist/veronese-paolo/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.

Harris, Beth, and Steven Zucker. “Paolo Veronese, Feast in the House of Levi.” Smarthistory, 10 Dec. 2015, smarthistory.org/paolo-veronese-feast-in-the-house-of-levi/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.

Harris, Beth, and Steven Zucker. “Paolo Veronese. Feast in the House of Levi.” Khan Academy, 16 Apr. 2013, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-ren-florence-rome/late-renaissance-venice/v/paolo-veronese-feast-in-the-house-of-levi-1573. Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.


Comments

  1. kassfermSeptember 29, 2024 at 7:42 PM

    I really admire your analysis of The Feast in the House of Levi! One aspect that fascinates me about the painting is how the columns frame the scene, placing Jesus at the center. This not only immediately draws attention to Him but also amplifies the sense of importance surrounding the gathering, despite the lively chaos of the other figures. Furthermore, the subtle inclusion of angels amidst the architecture creates a euphoric atmosphere that feels almost transcendent, seamlessly blending the sacred with the ordinary.
    The way you linked the piece to the theme of the Italian Renaissance is really thought-provoking. You pointed out how it captures the spirit of humanism remarkably well by placing sacred figures in a mundane, everyday setting, allowing viewers to connect with them on a personal level. This approach also mirrors the larger cultural currents of the time, when artists aimed to bridge the divine and the earthly. The vibrant colours and the detailed, realistic portrayal of the Venetian setting not only showcase Veronese's artistic skill but also highlight the cultural context of late Renaissance Venice, where art became a means of personal expression and societal commentary.
    I'm impressed by your analysis of Veronese's response to the inquiry by the Inquisition. It really highlights the conflict between artistic freedom and the expectations of religious authorities during the Counter-Reformation. His choice to maintain a lively atmosphere despite the criticisms speaks volumes about the changing role of artists in society. This not only deepens our understanding of this specific work but also sheds light on the broader conversation about art, faith, and cultural identity during a crucial period in history.

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  2. paulwilliamsjrOctober 3, 2024 at 8:38 PM

    I really like this painting of The Feast in the house of Levi. The painting and the colors looks very realistic. All the buildings have its own shapes and sizes. The lighting is great. The city seems to be lighten up but it is beautifully dark out side. The painting is all painted to the last detail. The buildings look like it is a very fancy place to dine of that era. The people are all crowded in and they are all in a happy mood, especially dining with Jesus Christ. It looks like a joyous dinner. I would have loved that.

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  3. Abbie NewlinOctober 3, 2024 at 10:27 PM

    I like that you brought up that it is constructed like a triptych. I would of not caught onto that detail otherwise, and it gave me a new appreciation for the piece, as it divides the sections beautifully. This piece has a lot going on which makes it interesting. Although, I was surprised that the background is what captured my attention first, as usually it is Jesus and the Apostles that is the attention grabber. The background gives off a sense of calm in the night, opposite of the chaotic humans and animals dining. The mix of a simple setting, with the chaotic humans, gives a very humanism feel to this piece. It's nice to hear that Veronese fought for his artistic vision and freedom to create. The extra patrons make the piece fun and helps give it the feel of being in a restaurant. The piece overall gives you a sense that you are also a diner in this establishment.

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