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? _A._ For ornament, as is usually done. _Q._ At the table of the Lord whom have you placed? _A._ The twelve Apostles. _Q._ What is St. Peter doing, who is the first?