Wedding at Cana

The painter Mattia Preti, who was based in Naples from 1653, became acquainted with Veronese’s works in Venice and Modena. His high regard for them can be clearly discerned, especially in his own feast and banqueting scenes. This painting in London was very probably commissioned by Caspar de Roomer, the hugely wealthy Flemish merchant who lived in Naples, and for whom Preti painted a lavish, crowded scene on a loggia in imitation of Veronese.