Painters on Painting - Paolo Veronese

Those painters who have best understood the art of producing a good effect, have adopted one principle that seems perfectly conformable to reason; that a part may be sacrificed for the good of the whole. Thus, whether the masses consist of light or shadow, it is necessary that they should be compact and of a pleasing shape; to this end, some parts may be made darker and some lighter, and reflections stronger than nature would warrant. Paul Veronese took great liberties of this kind. It is said, that being once asked, why certain figures were painted in the shade, as no cause was seen in the picture itself, he turned off the enquiry by answering, "una nuevola che passa," a cloud is passing which has overshadowed them.