Veronese: National Gallery

This book serves as both a monograph and a companion to the 2014 National Gallery, London exhibition "Veronese: Magnificence in Renaissance Venice." The book reexamines the career of Paolo Veronese (1528–1588), a leading Venetian Renaissance artist, challenging his dismissal as merely a decorative painter. It traces his journey from Verona, where his style was shaped by classical antiquity, to Venice, where he established a successful workshop.

Salomon explores Veronese’s diverse output—featuring monumental banquet scenes, altarpieces, portraits, and allegories—designed for specific aristocratic and religious settings. The book highlights his mastery of color, composition, and tactile techniques, evident in his depictions of rich textiles, metals, and complexions, supported by lavish illustrations. It includes a checklist of 50 exhibited paintings, with details on provenance and bibliography, though it excludes an in-depth focus on drawings, which were showcased in a concurrent Verona exhibition.

The text critiques traditional views, noting influences from Titian, Tintoretto, and architecture, while acknowledging Veronese’s harmonious style. Salomon avoids uncritical praise, addressing technical limitations, like the fading of smalt blue over time. The book underscores Veronese’s cultural significance in 16th-century Venice, his workshop’s role, and the exhibition’s rare assembly of works from global collections, making it a key scholarly resource on his legacy.