Venetian Painted Feasts

Venetian Painted Feasts
Detail of "Venice: The Feast Day of Saint Roch," circa 1735, by Canaletto. National Gallery, London. Public Domain
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The word feast has multiple meanings: It can refer to an elaborate celebratory meal often accompanied by entertainment, or it can signify a cyclic religious observance honoring a holy person.

The tradition of communal feasting can be traced to the early Neolithic period. In ancient Greece, there was a special feast called a symposium that was an integral part of society. Subsequently, feasting was prevalent in the medieval and Renaissance world and has survived in different forms to the present day.

Michelle Plastrik
Michelle Plastrik
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Michelle Plastrik is an art adviser living in New York City. She writes on a range of topics, including art history, the art market, museums, art fairs, and special exhibitions.
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