Veronese: Magnificence in Renaissance Venice

Fabulous exhibition at the National Gallery looking at the work of Veronese.

I was so looking forward to this show and I was not disappointed! It was a good old fashioned show and I see that as a good thing. It concentrates on one artist and their career in chronological order. It mentions the other artists of the time but does not take up space with their work. Because of it being at the National Gallery if you want to make the comparison with Titian or Tintoretto you just have to head to the next gallery when you’ve finished.

I loved the fact that the commentary on the works was in the small leaflets so people did not queue up to read a label or bunch around them. I’d also recommend the tape tour which added a lot more particularly the comments by an opera designer and costume historian.

Veronese came across as an artist who really understands the human condition partially the happier aspects of it. He shows the happiness of people dressing up in their best clothes and showing off their possessions. He shows the interaction of people and animals. Can there be a better picture of a person and their dog than the two small girls stroking a very patient dog in the Supper at Emmaus? He invites you to make contemporary parallels not all of that appropriate but because he seems to have been populist in his day it seems fine! I’ll just say watch out for the Liz Hurley monk and a Two Ronnie’s reference!

It was great to see old friends from galleries around the world but also to meet new pictures such as the huge “Martyrdom of St George”.

I could go on and on about this show but I’ll just say go! See it for yourself, have fun and leave feeling there is nothing wrong with enjoying life!

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