Artwork
The Wedding Feast at Cana
The Wedding Feast at Cana is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Lavinia Fontana. It dates from 1575 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.
About this work
Overview
The painting *The Wedding Feast at Cana* was executed in 1575 by Lavinia Fontana, an Italian artist working in the late‑sixteenth century. Rendered on a copper support, the work depicts a biblical banquet scene and reflects the religious genre conventions of its time. It is part of the J. Paul Getty Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays the miracle at Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine, a narrative frequently employed to illustrate themes of divine providence and transformation. By focusing on the banquet setting, the painting emphasizes both the communal aspect of the ritual and the theological significance of the miracle within a familiar domestic context.
Technique & Style
Created on copper, the medium allows for fine detail and a luminous surface, qualities that Fontana exploits to render intricate fabrics and reflective surfaces. The work exhibits the elongated figures and elegant poses characteristic of Mannerist aesthetics, while also anticipating the emerging naturalism of early Baroque painting through its handling of light and texture.
History & Provenance
Lavinia Fontana, trained by her father Prospero, produced the piece while active in Bologna before relocating to Rome. The painting entered the Getty Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the late twentieth century, joining a broader collection of Italian works from the same period.
Context
As one of the earliest women to sustain a professional artistic career in Western Europe, Fontana’s *Wedding Feast at Cana* exemplifies her ability to secure commissions and navigate the male‑dominated art market of the Renaissance. The work contributes to scholarship on gender and artistic production, illustrating how a female painter engaged with contemporary religious iconography and technical innovation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lavinia Fontana (24 August 1552 – 11 August 1614) was an Italian Mannerist painter active in Bologna and Rome.
