The Marriage at Cana 

Paolo Veronese painted ‘The Marriage at Cana’ using oil on canvas, a common medium that allowed for rich colors and detailed depictions. But look closely. What seems to be a biblical scene, set during a wedding, is actually a window into 16th-century Venetian society. Veronese has populated the scene with figures dressed in the height of Venetian fashion. The detailed rendering of fabrics – the silk, the velvet, the linen – isn't just for show. It reflects Venice's status as a major center for textile production and trade. The shimmering quality of the materials, carefully represented with paint, speaks to Venice's economic power and status. Think about all the hands involved in the production of these luxury goods, from the weavers to the dyers to the merchants who traded them across Europe. ‘The Marriage at Cana’ is a snapshot of a city powered by skilled labor and global commerce. It reminds us that even a painting with religious subject matter can be deeply rooted in the material realities of its time.