The Wedding at Cana

‘The wedding at Cana’ is a representational painting by the Italian Mannerist artist, Paolo Veronese. This Renaissance painting depicts the miraculous scene where Jesus Christ turns the water into wine. Around 130 figures are shown in this painting along with the Christ in the centre whose focus is fixated on the viewer. It looks like a grand, majestic event planned with the guests seated around the large table, servants bringing dishes to feast upon and a group of musicians below playing various instruments. It is speculated that the artist incorporated himself into the painting as the white tunic musician sitting below playing viola da braccio. The tension regarding the absence of wine is visible on the face of the bride and groom seated in the left side of the painting. However, the miracle is also shown as the Christ alongside his apostles and the Virgin Mary is shown calm and composed and the wine is poured by the servants from the barrels in the right side of the painting. The divine figures and the subjects have exchanged their status on this painting, and the common people are also visible at the top of the painting. The symbolism behind this painting hides in the simple truth of the grand, celebratory feast contrasting heavily with a slaughtered lamb or dog in the foreground, quietly symbolizing the transience of earthly pleasures and foreshadowing Christ's ultimate sacrifice.