
What type of painting is the wedding feast at Cana?
The Wedding Feast at Cana (1563), by the Italian artist Paolo Veronese (1528–88), is a representational painting that depicts the biblical story of the Marriage at Cana, at which Jesus converts water to wine (John 2:1–11). Executed in the Mannerist style (1520–1600) of the late Renaissance,...
What is the significance of the wedding at Cana?
"Wedding at Cana" redirects here. For the Veronese painting, see The Wedding at Cana. The transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John. In the Gospel account, Jesus Christ, his mother and his disciples are invited to a wedding.
What is the theme of the painting Cana?
The theme of the painting is based on the Bible story told in St John's Gospel (John 2:1-11), concerning a marriage held at Cana, Galilee, attended by Mary, Jesus and his disciples.
When was the wedding feast at Cana restoration?
In 1989, the Louvre Museum began a painting restoration of The Wedding Feast at Cana (1563), which provoked an art-world controversy like that caused by the eleven-year Restoration of the Sistine Chapel frescoes (1989–99).

How was the wedding at Cana painted?
The pictorial area (67.29 m2) of the canvas makes The Wedding Feast at Cana the most expansive picture in the paintings collection of the Musée du Louvre....The Wedding at Cana.The Wedding Feast at CanaArtistPaolo VeroneseYear1563MediumOil on canvasDimensions6.77 m × 9.94 m (267 in × 391 in)2 more rows
When was the wedding at Cana painted?
1562–1563The Wedding at Cana / Created
How big is the wedding at Cana painting?
22′ 3″ x 32′ 0″The Wedding at Cana / Dimensions
Why was the wedding at Cana painting?
Since its completion in 1563, Paolo Veronese's 32-foot-long painting The Wedding Feast at Cana had been an object of admiration—an image with religious resonance for the monks of Venice's San Giorgio Maggiore who came before it and a picture filled with aesthetic significance for the countless artists it inspired.
How old was Jesus when he did his first miracle?
Luke 3:23 states that Jesus was "about 30 years of age" at the start of his ministry.
When did Jesus turn the water into wine?
The miracle is told of in John 2:1-11. Jesus, his mother, and his disciples attend a wedding in the village of Cana. When the wine runs out at the feast, Jesus turns water into wine, thus demonstrating his divinity to his disciples.
How many guests were at the wedding at Cana?
In total there are more than 130 people. The bride and groom are in the left bottom corner sitting at the table. A servant is offering a glass of wine to the groom to taste the new wine. The bearded ceremonial master, dressed in a green mantle, is standing behind the servant.
Who painted the wedding of Cana?
Paolo VeroneseThe Wedding at Cana / ArtistPaolo Veronese, The Wedding at Cana, 1562-63. Oil on canvas. 6.77 x 9.94 m. The Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
What picture is opposite the Mona Lisa?
Wedding Feast at CanaVenetian painting Veronese's monumental Wedding Feast at Cana fills the display space opposite the Mona Lisa, and all around are other famous paintings!
Who painted the Last Supper?
Leonardo da VinciThe Last Supper / ArtistLast Supper, Italian Cenacolo, one of the most famous artworks in the world, painted by Leonardo da Vinci probably between 1495 and 1498 for the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
Who painted The Wedding Feast at Cana?
Paolo VeroneseThe Wedding at Cana / ArtistPaolo Veronese, The Wedding at Cana, 1562-63. Oil on canvas. 6.77 x 9.94 m. The Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
Who painted the Last Supper?
Leonardo da VinciThe Last Supper / ArtistLast Supper, Italian Cenacolo, one of the most famous artworks in the world, painted by Leonardo da Vinci probably between 1495 and 1498 for the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
What is the painting across from Mona Lisa?
Wedding Feast at CanaVenetian painting Veronese's monumental Wedding Feast at Cana fills the display space opposite the Mona Lisa, and all around are other famous paintings!
What is the main message of the wedding at Cana?
In the Gospels, Jesus' presence at the wedding at Cana emphasizes both personal and communal nature of the New Covenant. And His turning water into wine so the celebration could continue demonstrates how the New Covenant of service and forgiveness is a happy, joyful one.
When was the wedding at Cana painted?
Theft and Survival of “The Wedding at Cana”. From the completion of the painting in 1563, it decorated the refectory of the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, until 1797 when soldiers of Napoleon’s French Revolutionary Army plundered the picture as war booty. This theft occurred during the Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802).
What is the wedding at Cana?
“The Wedding at Cana” by Paolo Veronese depicts the biblical story of the Marriage at Cana, at which Jesus converts water to wine. The size of this canvas makes “The Wedding Feast at Cana” the largest picture in the Musée du Louvre.
Where is the wedding feast at Cana hung?
In 2007, 210 years after the looting of this painting, a computer-generated digital facsimile of The Wedding Feast at Cana was hung in the Palladian refectory of the Monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice.
What style is Veronese's painting?
The picture is in the Mannerist style, which exaggerated the Renaissance ideals of figure, light, and color. The composition as an ideal representation of the subject, rather than as a realistic representation. The visual tension and the many sub-plots in this painting by Veronese are achieved by the inclusion of sophisticated cultural codes ...
What did the Benedictine painter represent?
The Benedictine contract stipulated that the painter represent: “The history of the banquet of Christ’s miracle at Cana, in Galilee, creating the number of figures that can be fully accommodated.”.
Where is the wedding in the New Testament?
The Wedding at Cana . The New Testament story of the Marriage at Cana is from the Gospel of John and represents the first Christian miracle. In the narrative, Mary, her son, Jesus of Nazareth, and some of his Apostles attend a wedding in Cana, Galilee.
Where is the painting of the Louvre?
Today it is preserved in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
What is the wedding at Cana?
Marriage at Cana. "Wedding at Cana" redirects here. For the Veronese painting, see The Wedding at Cana. The transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John. In the Gospel account, Jesus, his mother and his disciples are invited to a wedding, ...
What is the significance of the marriage at Cana?
Although none of the synoptic Gospels mentions the marriage at Cana, Christian tradition based on John 2:11 holds that this is the first public miracle of Jesus. It is considered to have symbolic importance as the first of the seven signs in the Gospel of John by which Jesus' divine status is attested , and around which the gospel is structured.
What is the gospel account of Jesus being invited to a marriage?
The gospel account of Jesus being invited to a marriage, attending, and using his divine power to save the celebrations from disaster are taken as evidence of his approval for marriage and earthly celebrations. It has also been used as an argument against Christian teetotalism.
Where did Jesus go to a wedding?
John 2:1-11 states that Jesus was at a wedding ( Seudat Nissuin) in Cana with his disciples. Jesus' mother (unnamed in John's Gospel) told Jesus, "They have no wine," and Jesus replied, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother then said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." ( John 2:3-5 ). Jesus ordered the servants to fill containers with water and to draw out some and take it to the chief steward (waiter). After tasting it, without knowing where it came from, the steward remarked to the bridegroom that he had departed from the custom of serving the best wine first by serving it last ( John 2:6-10 ). John adds that: "Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and it revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him" ( John 2:11 ).
Where is the wedding church in the Bible?
Miracle in the New Testament of the Bible. The " Wedding Church " in Kafr Kanna, Israel, a pilgrimage site believed by many Christians to be the site of the biblical marriage. The transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John.
Who was the bridegroom of Jesus?
One tradition, represented by Thomas Aquinas among others, holds that the bridegroom was St John the Evangelist himself. Bishop John Spong suggests in his book Born of a Woman that the event was the wedding of Jesus himself to Mary Magdalene.
Who ordered the servants to fill containers with water?
Jesus ordered the servants to fill containers with water and to draw out some and take it to the chief steward (waiter). After tasting it, without knowing where it came from, the steward remarked to the bridegroom that he had departed from the custom of serving the best wine first by serving it last ( John 2:6-10 ).
Where did Jesus attend his wedding feast?
John 2:1-11. Jesus of Nazareth took time out to attend a wedding feast in the village of Cana, with his mother, Mary, and his first few disciples. Jewish weddings were steeped in tradition and ritual. One of the customs was providing an extravagant feast for guests.
Why did something go wrong at this wedding?
Something went wrong at this wedding, however, because they ran out of wine early. In that culture, such a miscalculation would have been a great humiliation for the bride and groom. In the ancient Middle East, hospitality to guests was considered a grave responsibility.
What is the meaning of the shortage of wine at Cana?
Some Bible scholars interpret the shortage of wine at Cana as symbolic of the spiritual dryness of Judaism at the time of Jesus. Wine was a common symbol of God’s bounty and of spiritual joy.
Why is the wedding couple's name not mentioned?
The wedding couple's names are not mentioned, but because Cana was a small village, it's likely they had some connection to Nathaniel. This miracle, showing Jesus' supernatural control over physical elements like water, marked the beginning of his public ministry. Like his other miracles, it benefited people in need.
How many gallons of water did Jesus give to the servants?
Each large pot held from 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. He ordered them to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet, who was in charge of food and drink. The master was unaware of Jesus' turning the water in the jars into wine. The steward was astounded.
Who was unaware of Jesus turning the water in the jars into wine?
The master was unaware of Jesus' turning the water in the jars into wine. The steward was astounded. He took the bride and groom aside and complimented them. Most couples served the best wine first, he said, then brought out cheaper wine after the guests had too much to drink and would not notice.
Did Jesus produce wine?
Not only did Jesus produce a large quantity of wine, but the quality of it astonished the banquet master. In the same way, Jesus pours his Spirit into us in abundance, giving us God's best. While it may seem insignificant, there is crucial symbolism in this first miracle of Jesus.
Where was the wedding at Cana?
The Wedding at Cana (1563) Louvre, Paris. By Paolo Veronese.
What was Veronese's interpretation of the Biblical story of the Wedding at Cana?
His emphasis on the hedonistic aspects of a marriage banquet, at the expense of the pious aspects of the occasion, ran counter to the religious sensibilities of the 16th century Republic of Venice.
What does the cup of hands on Mary's hands represent?
Meanwhile, to the left of Jesus, The Virgin Mary cups her hands to represent a glass that will contain the new wine - that is, the Blood of Christ. In addition, set in front of the musicians is an hourglass, a standard reference to the transience of earthly pleasures including human vanity.
What is the animal in the painting Jesus?
Behind the balustrade, above the figure of Jesus, an animal is being slaughtered, an allusion to the forthcoming sacrifice of Jesus, as the Lamb of God - a reference which is supported by the dog who is chewing a bone at the foot of the painting.
How big was the painting of the refectory?
The huge work (roughly 22 X 32 feet) was commissioned in 1562 for the refectory, designed by Andrea Palladio (1508-80), in the Benedictine monastery on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice. The artist's fee was 324 ducats, plus board and lodging plus a barrel of wine.
What is the theme of the painting in the Bible?
The theme of the painting is based on the Bible story told in St John's Gospel (John 2:1-11), concerning a marriage held at Cana, Galilee, attended by Mary, Jesus and his disciples. Towards the end of the wedding feast, as the wine begins to run out, Jesus asks that stone jars be filled with water which he then turns into wine.
Who are the four great painters of Venice?
The musical figures include the four great painters of Venice: Veronese himself (dressed in white, playing the viola da gamba), Jacopo Bassano (on flute), Tintoretto (violin), and Titian (dressed in red, playing the violoncello).
Where did Jesus go after the wedding?
Right after the wedding, according to John 2:12, Jesus goes to Capernaum and with him are his disciples, but also his mother and his brothers. I think that implies the whole family, including the brothers (and thus the sisters) were not only at the wedding but are now traveling with him.
Who was the feast of Cana?
One idea is also that the feast at Cana was the betrothal of St. John to Mary Magdalene, a marriage of celebates, who were understudies of Yeshua and formerly John the Baptizer. Or possibly of Yeshua himself, maybe James the Lesser or Just.
Where is the wedding in the Gospel of John?
There is a very intriguing story, unique to the Gospel of John, about a wedding attended by Jesus and his disciples at the Galilean village of Cana (John 2:1–11). Within the Gospel of John the story functions in a theological and even allegorical manner—it is the “first” of seven signs, the “water into wine” story, ...
Where did Jesus and his disciples go to join the wedding celebration?
Jesus and his disciples, who have been down in the Jordan valley with John the Baptist, return to the area to join the wedding celebration. Jesus’ mother Mary (though unnamed in John) and his brothers are already there (2:12), so it seems to be some kind of “family affair.”.
Who made Cana his strategic headquarters?
It is interesting to note that during the Jewish Revolt, Josephus, commander of the Jewish forces in Galilee, made Cana his strategic headquarters for a time ( Life 86).
How long does it take to make wine?
Wine, as you may know, takes at minimum days to make, and at a maximum several months. The passage of time is very much a part of the whole wine making process due to the slow microbial chemical transformation taking place in the initial liquid of the crushed grape’s combination of grape juice and grape skins.
Where did the wine making event take place?
The wine-making event, as recorded by Yeshua’s good friend John, took place somewhere between the years 30 and 33 CE in Cana, just off route 77, a little north of Nazareth. Here’s what happened: On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Yeshua was there. Now both Yeshua and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
How many water pots of stone were there?
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Yeshua said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
Was water in the stone containers living?
The water in the stone containers was not living, nor were the stone containers, which came from the earth; and so it was also with the earth, just water and earth prior to plants being created.
What is the wedding of Cana and the Deeper?
WEDDING OF CANA AND THE DEEPER STORY. Within the pages of the Bible's New Testament, we find the story of the Virgin Birth of Jesus. This is an allegory and parallel of the world, and it's virgin birth from space. This shares the same starting point as all scriptural creators. Noah, Jacob, David, and now Jesus.
How many water pots did Jesus use for the wedding?
When they wanted wine, Mary (Mother) said to Jesus "they have no wine." Jesus replies with "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." And there were set there, SIX waterpots of stone. Jesus told them to fill the waterpots with water, which they did. This translates to about 60 gallons. A bit overboard for a wedding, no?
Who was the governor of the feast when he tasted the water that was made wine?
When the Ruler of the feast had tasted the water (s) that was made wine, and knew not from where it came, the Governor of the feast called the Bridegroom. And he said "every man at the beginning seth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse, but thou hast kept the good wine until now.".

Overview
The transformation of water into wine at the wedding at Cana (also called the marriage at Cana, wedding feast at Cana or marriage feast at Cana) is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John.
In the Gospel account, Jesus Christ, his mother and his disciples are invited to a wedding. When his mother notices that the wine has run out, Jesus delivers a …
Biblical account
John 2:1–11 states that Jesus was at a wedding (seudat nissuin) in Cana with his disciples. Jesus' mother (unnamed in the Gospel of John) told Jesus, "They have no wine," and Jesus replied, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother then said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:3–5). Jesus ordered the servants to fill containers with water and to draw out some and take it to the chief steward (waiter). After ta…
Interpretation
The Wedding Feast takes place in Cana shortly after the call of Philip and Nathanael. According to John 21:2, Cana was Nathanael's hometown.
Although none of the synoptic Gospels mentions the wedding at Cana, Christian tradition based on John 2:11 holds that this is the first public miracle of Jesus. It is considered to have symbolic importance as the first of the seven signs in the Gospel of John by which Jesus' divine status is a…
Identification of biblical Cana
The exact location of "Cana in Galilee" (Ancient Greek: Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, Kana tēs Galilaias) has been subject to debate among scholars. Modern scholars maintain that since the Gospel of John was addressed to Jewish Christians of the time, it is unlikely that the evangelist would mention a place that did not exist. However, Dominican scholar Jerome Murphy-O'Connor cautions that Can…
Stone jars
Many throughout history have sought to recover the lost jars. On December 21, 2004, archaeologists reported finding in Kafr Kanna "pieces of large stone jars of the type the Gospel says Jesus used when he turned water into wine". But American scientists excavating the rival site of Khirbet Qana north of it, also claimed to have found pieces of stone jars from the time of Jesus. Fellow archaeologist Shimon Gibson cast doubt on the value of such finds for identifying the tow…
Wine or beer
In the journal Biblical Archaeology Review, Michael Homan argued that biblical scholars had misinterpreted early texts, translating to 'wine' when the more sensible translation would have been 'beer'. However, this has been dismissed by other writers, who pointed out that the Greek oinos always means wine, and that the word sikera was available if the gospel author wanted to refer to barley beer.
Other
Sixth-century Irish missionary Saint Columba of Iona supposedly performed an identical miracle when he served as a deacon in Ireland under Finnian of Movilla, replenishing the supply of sacramental wine for a mass.
See also
• Chronology of Jesus
• Life of Jesus in the New Testament
• Ministry of Jesus
• Miracles of Jesus