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Paolo Veronese was an Italian painter of the late Renaissance and one of the most important artists of the 16th century from the Venetian School. Veronese was not his real name. He was born the son of a stonemason, called spezapreda in Venetian. At that time it was common to use his father's profession as a surname. Therefore his real name was Paolo Spezapreda. His mother was an illegitimate daughter from the noble house of Caliari. From the 1850's Veronese changed his surname to Caliari. The nickname Paolo Veronese, under which he is often known, was given to him because of his origin in Verona and to distinguish him from another painter from Verona, Alessandro Turchi.
Veronese first trained as a stonemason. But he liked painting better, so at the age of 14 he started an apprenticeship with Antonio Badile, his future father-in-law. Art historians believe that an altarpiece made by Badile at this time clearly bears the signature of the young Veronese in some places. Because of his talent, Veronese had soon outgrown the studio of his old master. Therefore, after 3 years of apprenticeship he changed to Giovanni Francesco Caroto, who was also one of Veronese's leading painters. In his late youth Veronese painted various altarpieces and frescoes for the church, but also for the large Venetian families. After his first commission from the state in 1553, Veronese settled in Venice and worked closely with the state and the church for many years. In Venice he studied Tizian, Raphael, Parmigianino and Michelangelo, whose influences can be found in many of his works.
Veronese preferred to paint very large paintings, often showing many people. The scenes were mostly allegorical, biblical or historical. Particular attention was paid to "The Feast in the House of Levi" from 1573, which Veronese had originally entitled "The Last Supper", a painting commissioned by Dominican monks. The inquisitors of the Catholic Church did not like Veronese's interpretation. For he had embedded animals, fools, little people, German soldiers and all kinds of other figures in the scene. According to the church, the picture lacked the necessary piety. However, Veronese did not change the picture as requested, only the name. He ran a large workshop in Venice, which also employed his younger brother, nephew and sons. After his death, the family continued the workshop. They later signed their pictures with "Heirs of Paolo". Among his students were Giovanni Battista Zerlotti and Anselmo Canneri.
Paolo Veronese was an Italian painter of the late Renaissance and one of the most important artists of the 16th century from the Venetian School. Veronese was not his real name. He was born the son of a stonemason, called spezapreda in Venetian. At that time it was common to use his father's profession as a surname. Therefore his real name was Paolo Spezapreda. His mother was an illegitimate daughter from the noble house of Caliari. From the 1850's Veronese changed his surname to Caliari. The nickname Paolo Veronese, under which he is often known, was given to him because of his origin in Verona and to distinguish him from another painter from Verona, Alessandro Turchi.
Veronese first trained as a stonemason. But he liked painting better, so at the age of 14 he started an apprenticeship with Antonio Badile, his future father-in-law. Art historians believe that an altarpiece made by Badile at this time clearly bears the signature of the young Veronese in some places. Because of his talent, Veronese had soon outgrown the studio of his old master. Therefore, after 3 years of apprenticeship he changed to Giovanni Francesco Caroto, who was also one of Veronese's leading painters. In his late youth Veronese painted various altarpieces and frescoes for the church, but also for the large Venetian families. After his first commission from the state in 1553, Veronese settled in Venice and worked closely with the state and the church for many years. In Venice he studied Tizian, Raphael, Parmigianino and Michelangelo, whose influences can be found in many of his works.
Veronese preferred to paint very large paintings, often showing many people. The scenes were mostly allegorical, biblical or historical. Particular attention was paid to "The Feast in the House of Levi" from 1573, which Veronese had originally entitled "The Last Supper", a painting commissioned by Dominican monks. The inquisitors of the Catholic Church did not like Veronese's interpretation. For he had embedded animals, fools, little people, German soldiers and all kinds of other figures in the scene. According to the church, the picture lacked the necessary piety. However, Veronese did not change the picture as requested, only the name. He ran a large workshop in Venice, which also employed his younger brother, nephew and sons. After his death, the family continued the workshop. They later signed their pictures with "Heirs of Paolo". Among his students were Giovanni Battista Zerlotti and Anselmo Canneri.