Artwork
The Marriage at Cana
The Marriage at Cana is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Gaetano Gandolfi. It dates from 1766 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Gaetano Gandolfi, a Bolognese painter of the late Baroque, completed an oil canvas titled *The Marriage at Cana* in 1766. The work is part of the Walters Art Museum’s collection and illustrates a well‑known episode from the New Testament.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays the wedding feast at Cana, the moment when Jesus transforms water into wine. Gandolfi emphasizes the ritual’s communal atmosphere, arranging figures around a central table to highlight the miracle’s impact on the gathering.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting reflects the Rococo’s lighter palette and fluid brushwork while retaining Baroque dynamism. Gandolfi’s handling of light and color creates a sense of movement, and his attention to decorative detail aligns the work with mid‑18th‑century aesthetic trends.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in 1766, the canvas has remained in private and institutional hands before entering the Walters Art Museum. The museum acquired the piece as part of its broader effort to represent Italian art from the Baroque and Rococo periods.
Context
Gandolfi’s career was marked by frequent biblical and mythological subjects, catering to the devotional and decorative demands of his patrons. This painting exemplifies his ability to merge narrative content with the ornamental sensibilities that characterized the late 18th‑century Italian art scene.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gaetano Gandolfi (31 August 1734 – 20 June 1802) was an Italian painter, draughtsman and sculptor of the late Baroque period, mainly active in and around Bologna.
