The Apotheosis of Aeneas 1615 - 1619

Editor: Here we have Jacob Jordaens's "The Apotheosis of Aeneas," created with oil paint between 1615 and 1619. It’s quite a vibrant and crowded scene, with all these figures in the sky. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the materiality of the oil paint itself. Look at the brushwork! How it defines form and simultaneously dissolves it in that dynamic baroque style. But consider: who commissioned this, and what social functions did such grand history paintings serve? Were they merely celebrating Aeneas, or bolstering specific claims to power by connecting them with this heroic and mythical past? Editor: That’s interesting – so, the painting is functioning as more than just a nice scene; it's actually participating in a power structure. But, by apotheosis, wouldn't he be on a divine level? Curator: Exactly! The labor involved in creating such a piece, from the grinding of pigments to the layering of glazes, signals value and importance. Consider too, the consumption aspect: displaying this work was undoubtedly a symbol of wealth and cultivated taste. Editor: So you are considering what went into the paint, who paid the painter and what were the patrons' values... it sheds a totally different light. Now that you mention, this glorification served a political agenda too, beyond just illustrating mythology. It wasn’t made in a vacuum, it was an intentional process and display. Curator: Precisely! Analyzing the physical creation, from pigment to patron, provides a critical lens through which we can better understand both the artistic skill involved and how art functions within a particular social order. Editor: I’ve definitely learned to look beyond the immediate scene. It feels a lot more layered.