St. Elisabeth of Hungary (The Miracle of the Roses) 1879

Gustave Moreau painted this depiction of St. Elisabeth of Hungary and the Miracle of the Roses, sometime before his death in 1898, using oil on canvas. The very act of painting with oil is a skilled tradition, demanding patience and precision to build up layers of color and texture. Notice here how the painting shimmers with a jeweled effect. This wasn’t just chance. Moreau primed his canvas, and would then begin to build up the image with thin glazes of color, each meticulously applied and allowed to dry before the next. Moreau was inspired by Renaissance painters, and he sought to emulate their techniques. But this wasn't just about technical expertise. It was about imbuing his work with a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. Oil paint gave him the tools to achieve this, and through these methods of layering, he could create a vision of spiritual devotion. This painting offers us a glimpse into a world where the physical and the spiritual are interwoven.