FROM THE BOOK

"To animate the various conversations Veronese has used several devices not always emphasized unless you look very closely, for example on the right side of the painting at the main table, a group of no less than eight men appear to be following Aretino's upward gaze in the proximity of falling flowers, blossoms, maybe white roses? What exactly are they looking at? The object of their gaze appears to be outside the top of the painting frame. There is a more obvious movement of servants from left and right into the centre of the picture, as though flowing in like water from the sides to become wine at the centre when in contact with three attributes--the butcher’s blade, Christ’s head and the hourglass--sacrifice, the Messiah at the head and centre of all activity, and time running out for Christ’s ministry which starts at this time and place, and will exorably continue till the death predicted. That same centre line continues down to the two aristocratic dogs at the foot of the painting. Are they part of the pictorial programme, and if they are, what do they signify?" Peter Greenaway, excerpted from his text to Veronese, The Wedding at Cana.