Lucas van Uffelen 1622

This is Lucas van Uffelen, painted by Anthony van Dyck in oil on canvas. The very act of painting with oils elevated the sitter, a collector and art dealer, but also a patron of van Dyck himself. Oil paint was a relatively new technology at this time, only available to those with resources, unlike fresco or tempera, which were more accessible. It allowed for the creation of incredibly lifelike portraits, capturing nuances of light and shadow. The painting process, from the grinding of pigments to the layering of glazes, demanded time and skill. Consider van Dyck's mastery in rendering the textures of fabric and skin, giving the artwork its air of upper-classness. The deep blacks and rich colours are achieved with pigments derived from rare sources. By considering the materials and processes involved, we get a sense of the social and economic context in which this portrait was created, and we see the intersection of artistic skill, material value, and social status.