It seems utterly amazing 400+ years later that the works of the High Renassaince period could have aroused such controversy at the time. In the instance of Veronese’s Feast in the House of Levi, the points of contention - Germans, jester, the actions of the Apostles - appear to my modern, secular eyes to be inconsequential and the transcript of the trial gives no obvious clues why these were deemed important at the time.
Another point that puzzles me is that the Veronese trial, mentioning the nudity in Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’, was held in 1573 and the additions to Michelangelo’s masterpiece were made in 1565, the year after his death - it doesn’t seem to make sense that this point is raised at his trial as the Last Judgment controversy had been resolved several years before. Even more interestingly, the sacred tribunal defends the nudity saying ‘…it is a mistake to suppose that clothes are worn, there was no reason for painting any?’
The following extract is illuminating for explaining what transgressions Veronese was being accused of and is followed by another of his works dated to the year of this Twenty Fifth Session showing a different feast scene. The ramifications of this decree were to divert religious European art along a different path.
The Council of Trent
The Twenty-Fifth Session
The canons and decrees of the sacred
and oecumenical Council of Trent,
Ed. and trans. J. Waterworth
(London: Dolman, 1848), 232-89.
Hanover Historical Texts Project
Scanned by Hanover College students in 1995.
The page numbers of Waterworth’s translation appear in brackets.
Begun on the third, and terminated on the fourth, day of December, MDLXIII., being the ninth and last under the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IV.
ON THE INVOCATION, VENERATION, AND RELICS, OF SAlNTS, AND ON SACRED IMAGES.
[...]
And the bishops shall carefully teach this,-that, by means of the histories of the mysteries of our Redemption, portrayed by paintings or other representations, the people is instructed, and confirmed in (the habit of) remembering, and continually revolving in mind the articles of faith; as also that great profit is derived from all sacred images, not only because the people are thereby admonished of the benefits and gifts bestowed upon them by Christ, but also because the miracles which God has performed by means of the saints, and their salutary examples, are set before the eyes of the faithful; that so they may give God thanks for those things; may order their own lives and manners in imitation of the saints; and may be excited to adore and love God, and to cultivate piety. But if any one shall teach, or entertain sentiments, contrary to these decrees; let him be anathema.
And if any abuses have crept in amongst these holy and salutary observances, the holy Synod ardently desires that they be utterly abolished; in such wise that no images, (suggestive) of false doctrine, and furnishing occasion of dangerous error to the uneducated, be set up. And if at times, when expedient for the unlettered people; it happen that the facts and narratives of sacred Scripture are portrayed and represented; the people shall be taught, that not thereby is the Divinity represented, as though it could be seen by the eyes of the body, or be portrayed by colours or figures.
Moreover, in the invocation of saints, the veneration of relics, and the sacred use of images, every superstition shall be removed, all filthy lucre be abolished; finally, all lasciviousness be [Page 236] avoided; in such wise that figures shall not be painted or adorned with a beauty exciting to lust; nor the celebration of the saints, and the visitation of relics be by any perverted into revellings and drunkenness; as if festivals are celebrated to the honour of the saints by luxury and wantonness.
In fine, let so great care and diligence be used herein by bishops, as that there be nothing seen that is disorderly, or that is unbecomingly or confusedly arranged, nothing that is profane, nothing indecorous, seeing that holiness becometh the house of God.
And that these things may be the more faithfully observed, the holy Synod ordains, that no one be allowed to place, or cause to be placed, any unusual image, in any place, or church, howsoever exempted, except that image have been approved of by the bishop: also, that no new miracles are to be acknowledged, or new relics recognised, unless the said bishop has taken cognizance and approved thereof; who, as soon as he has obtained some certain information in regard to these matters, shall, after having taken the advice of theologians, and of other pious men, act therein as he shall judge to be consonant with truth and piety. But if any doubtful, or difficult abuse has to be extirpated; or, in fine, if any more grave question shall arise touching these matters, the bishop, before deciding the controversy, shall await the sentence of the metropolitan and of the bishops of the province, in a provincial Council; yet so, that nothing new, or that previously has not been usual in the Church, shall be resolved on, without having first consulted the most holy Roman Pontiff.
'The Marriage at Cana'
Veronese 1563,
Oil on canvas, 666 x 990 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris
Tags: Council of Trent, Renaissance, Veronese