Madonna and Child with Sts Catherine and Barbara 1525

Editor: So, here we have Bernardino Luini's "Madonna and Child with Sts Catherine and Barbara," created around 1525. It's an oil painting and seeing it here, it has a very formal and serene feeling to it. I am interested in what kind of paint and painting support are being used. How would you interpret this work with that information in mind? Curator: What strikes me is the level of craftsmanship evident in rendering of the fabrics, which directs our attention to the patronage networks involved in commissioning this piece. Luini worked in oil, allowing him to achieve luminosity in the skin tones of the sitters, setting them off against the dark backdrop. But think about the labor—whose hands prepared these materials? The cost would be significant, positioning this Madonna and child not just as a religious image, but as a display of wealth and piety deeply entwined with specific materials. Editor: That makes sense. It's not just the artistic skill, but also who could afford these pigments and this technique in that time and location. Did using certain rare pigments carry extra meaning then? Curator: Precisely. For instance, ultramarine blue, derived from lapis lazuli, was associated with the Virgin Mary due to its expense and rarity, which mirrored her perceived value and virtue. It connects us to global trade networks and exploitation. Its deployment signifies not only the artist’s skill, but also the patron's financial muscle and participation in the world trade and culture. This perspective pushes us to rethink traditional Renaissance art history which centered on male genius rather than craft networks and financial imperatives. Editor: That’s really insightful. Looking at it this way, I realize I was only seeing the surface, when there's a whole world of labor and materials behind the canvas. Curator: Exactly! The visible artistry and serene images prompt us to consider all elements within production, leading to the networks which created the painting to begin with.