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Artists Tintoretto | Veronese |
Veronese Banquet Levi | Mystic Marriage | Battle Lepanto | Annunciation | Assumption | Coronation Virgin | Crucifixion | St Francis Stigmata

Paul Veronese, The Assumption of the Virgin, at the Accademia Galleries in Venice, Italy


Paul Veronese (1528–1588) “The Assumption of the Virgin”

Paul Veronese, The Assumption of the Virgin, at the Accademia Galleries in Venice, Italy
Assumption of the Virgin Painting – Oil on canvas (256 x 432 cm) 1584

This work by Veronese was located on the high altar of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

This large painting is striking for the beauty of its composition, the richness of its colours and its play of light and shadow.

The eye is first drawn to the bottom of the scene by the large white cloak of a kneeling apostle, situated on the same vertical axis and opposite the Virgin painted above him.

Paul Veronese, The Assumption of the Virgin, at the Accademia Galleries in Venice, Italy
Assumption of the Virgin The interplay of the apostles’ postures and the colours of their garments creates a visual path that rises from the tomb to reach the Virgin Mary being carried away by the angels.

This vertical visual path is reinforced by the position of the apostles’ hands, almost all of whom have their faces turned towards the sky, gazing at the Virgin Mary as she ascends with her hands clasped.

One of the apostles points to the Virgin’s empty tomb, whilst another leans over it, in disbelief.

The twelve apostles depicted are both surprised and in awe.

Their respective postures reveal their different reactions: mouths agape, arms outstretched, a hand on the heart, or fingers spread apart.

The four evangelists surround the tomb, three of them looking at the Virgin ascending to heaven whilst holding their closed books, whilst the fourth leans over his open book to record the miracle he is witnessing.

Paul Veronese, The Assumption of the Virgin, at the Accademia Galleries in Venice, Italy
Assumption of the Virgin On the left, two women named Mary, like the Virgin Mary, are also witnessing the scene.

One of them is standing just behind two apostles, whilst the other Mary is kneeling near the tomb behind the banister at the bottom of the stairs and is looking at the Virgin as she rises; she can be seen by following the hand of the apostle who has fallen to his knees beneath her cloak, which is dazzlingly white in the heavenly light.

The Virgin has the deathly pallor of death, her eyes ringed with dark circles; she allows herself to be carried, swept away by the two vigorous angels standing on either side of her.

Paul Veronese, The Assumption of the Virgin, at the Accademia Galleries in Venice, Italy
Assumption of the Virgin Two little cherubs wrap their chubby little arms around the Virgin’s legs to help her on her ascent.

Just above the apostles and to the right, a group of angels accompanies the Virgin’s ascent whilst playing music.

A good thirty or so little faces of seraphim fill the heavenly vault bathed in blue light around the Virgin.

This magnificent work by Veronese appears both vivid and supernatural thanks to the miracle unfolding before our eyes.

Veronese Banquet Levi | Mystic Marriage | Battle Lepanto | Annunciation | Assumption | Coronation Virgin | Crucifixion | St Francis Stigmata
Artists Tintoretto | Veronese |
Accademia Artists | Location Schedule Tickets Authorizations


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