It was for painting this picture as a sacred subject—­or rather for subordinating sacred history to splendid mundane effects—­that the artist was summoned before the Holy Office in the chapel of S. Theodore on July 8, 1573.  At the end of Ruskin’s brief Guide to the Principal Pictures in the Academy of Fine Arts at Venice, a translation of the examination is given.  Reading it, one feels that Veronese did not come out of it too well.  Whistler would have done better.  I quote a little.

     Question. Do you know the reason why you have been summoned?

     Answer. No, my lord.

     Q. Can you imagine it?

     A. I can imagine it.

     Q. Tell us what you imagine.

A. For the reason which the Reverend Prior of SS.  Giovanni and Paolo, whose name I know not, told me that he had been here, and that your illustrious lordships had given him orders that I should substitute the figure of the Magdalen for that of a dog; and I replied that I would willingly have done this, or anything else for my own credit and the advantage of the picture, but that I did not think the figure of the Magdalen would be fitting or would look well, for many reasons, which I will always assign whenever the opportunity is given me.

     Q. What picture is that which you have named?

     A. It is the picture representing the last supper that Jesus took
     with His disciples in the house of Simon.

     Q. Where is this picture?

     A. In the refectory of the Friars of SS.  Giovanni and Paolo.

     Q. In this supper of Our Lord, have you painted any attendants?

     A. Yes, my lord.

     Q. Say how many attendants, and what each is doing.

A. First, the master of the house, Simon; besides, I have placed below him a server, who I have supposed to have come for his own amusement to see the arrangement of the table.  There are besides several others, which, as there are many figures in the picture, I do not recollect.

     Q. What is the meaning of those men dressed in the German fashion
     each with a halbert in his hand?

     A. It is now necessary that I should say a few words.

     The Court. Say on.

A. We painters take the same license that is permitted to poets and jesters.  I have placed these two halberdiers—­the one eating, the other drinking—­by the staircase, to be supposed ready to perform any duty that may be required of them; it appearing to me quite fitting that the master of such a house, who was rich and great (as I have been told), should have such attendants.

     Q. That fellow dressed like a buffoon, with the parrot on his
     wrist,—­for what purpose is he introduced into the canvas?