The Triumph of the Church c. 13th century

This illuminated manuscript, "The Triumph of the Church," was made by an anonymous artist using precious materials, including gold leaf. The vibrant colors were achieved by grinding minerals and other substances into pigments, which were then carefully applied to the parchment. Observe the intense gold background, achieved through painstaking application of gold leaf, a labor-intensive process that required specialized tools and techniques. The artist's skills are evident in the delicate brushwork, precise lines, and attention to detail. The gilding especially transforms the artwork into a sort of reliquary, with its own inherent value and preciousness. Consider too, the hierarchies of labor: from the mining of the materials, to their refinement, to the handiwork we see here. All of this imbues the image with its cultural significance, as a testament to the power and wealth of the Church. It exemplifies the way materials and making are crucial to understanding an artwork’s broader context, blurring any supposed boundaries between art, craft, and social history.