Saint Monica from an Augustinian altarpiece 1450 - 1475

Editor: So, this is “Saint Monica from an Augustinian Altarpiece,” made sometime between 1450 and 1475 by an anonymous artist. It's an oil painting. I’m struck by the…plainness of it, and the use of oil, which I think of as lending a richness, almost doesn’t here. How would you read this? Curator: Let's consider the economic underpinnings and material processes here. Oil paint, even then, represented a certain level of investment. Yet, observe the austerity. The somber black robe dominates, seemingly swallowing light rather than reflecting it. What does that say about the intended audience and the purpose of this work? Editor: I guess if it was part of an altarpiece it was intended to show reverence, right? Curator: Precisely, but *how* does it achieve that? Think about the labor involved: the grinding of pigments, the layering of paint. Was the point to create opulence or something else entirely? This wasn't some noble patron commission, the production points to something humbler and a desire for introspection instead. How does the painting act almost as an artefact representing pious toil? Editor: So, it's not about showing off wealth; the material is used to express devotion? Curator: Exactly. The choice of oil, despite its cost, enables a depth and realism. Think about the surface itself, the brushstrokes—or relative lack thereof. The focus is shifted away from the hand of the artist. The value wasn’t in celebrating artistic skill but in depicting piety in a way that was convincing to working or middle-class parishioners. The gold, the pigments, all of it serves to highlight her ascetic way of life through stark juxtaposition. Editor: That's really interesting – the artist using material value in order to reflect humility! Curator: Indeed. Considering this reveals so much more than simply viewing the work as a devotional image.