Paolo Cagliari Veronese Giclée Fine Art Prints 2 of 2

Paolo Veronese (born Paolo Caliari), was an Italian Renaissance painter renowned for his outstanding use of color and ability to infuse his paintings with life and vitality.

Veronese was born around 1528 in Verona, Italy - hence his nickname - to a stonecutter father and an illegitimate daughter of a nobleman mother. He was the eldest of five siblings.

Beginning his artistic education early, Veronese artist Antonio Badile provided him with guidance. Subsequently he became apprenticed to Giovanni Francesco Caroto of Verona; by 18 he was already producing independent pieces.

Veronese arrived in Venice in 1553 and quickly discovered the works of Titian and Tintoretto. His talent quickly caught on, and soon thereafter he was hired to paint frescoes for churches and public buildings around Venice.

Veronese's work was distinguished by vibrant colors, dramatic compositions and his remarkable skill at depicting human forms with great accuracy. Many of his paintings depict religious or mythological scenes with grandeur and theatricality - these qualities made Veronese one of his greatest artists ever!

Some of his most famous works include "The Wedding at Cana" (1563), "The Feast in the House of Levi" (1573), and "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary" (1571).

Veronese's work was never without controversy. In 1573, he was summoned by the Inquisition for including "buffoons, drunken Germans, dwarfs and other such scurrilities" in his Last Supper painting (later renamed The Feast in Levi's House) which featured such elements. Veronese justified these inclusions by asserting they added to its decorum - in this instance by appealing to "decorum".

Veronese continued painting until his death in 1588, having had an immense influence on Venetian painting and subsequent artists such as Rubens and van Dyck. He was laid to rest at San Sebastiano Church in Venice - an institution for which he had painted extensively during his lifetime.

Even four centuries after his death, Veronese's work is celebrated for its vibrancy, drama, and ability to bring scenes alive. His paintings can be found in museums and collections worldwide.