Saint Laurenzius 1468

Carlo Crivelli painted this panel of Saint Laurenzius with tempera on wood, sometime in the second half of the fifteenth century. The real gold leaf used for the halo and gilded details speaks to a patron of means, but these expensive materials also attest to the high value placed on craftsmanship at this time. While the gilding catches the eye, look closer at the details of Crivelli’s painting. Notice the intricate brocade patterns of the saint’s vestments, the tooling of his book's cover, and the suggestion of low relief sculpture. These details reflect the artist’s deep engagement with materiality, and his understanding of how different materials, such as precious metals, fine textiles, and carved stone, could evoke status and religious meaning. Think, too, of the labor involved in the production of paintings like this, and the range of skills Crivelli brought to bear on his work. By emphasizing these aspects of making, we recognize that this painting is both a work of art and a testament to the cultural value of craft.