Veronese (National Gallery London)

Paolo Veronese (1528–1588) was one of the great Venetian artists of the Renaissance, whose works were admired for their rich colors and mastery of theatrical narrative. His paintings ranged from decorative fresco schemes and portraits to allegorical, biblical, and historical subjects, produced for an aristocratic international audience.
 
This definitive reappraisal of the artist also provides a fascinating account of painting and patronage in 16th-century Venice. Xavier F. Salomon traces Veronese’s career from its beginnings in Verona, where he developed an art shaped by the rediscovery of antiquity, to Venice, where he established a successful workshop. Salomon’s discussion of Veronese’s entire output, including his monumental banquet scenes, illuminates the original function of every work, many of them designed for specific locations. Generous illustrations, including numerous details, reveal the distinctive tactile qualities of Veronese’s technique and the beauty of his palette, whether rendering rich textiles, precious metals or female complexions.  This splendid book makes a significant contribution to scholarship in the field of 16th-century Venetian painting.