Saviour blesses the four apostles 1480

Vittore Carpaccio completed this oil on canvas painting, Saviour Blesses the Four Apostles, around the turn of the 16th century. Oil paint was made with ground pigments combined with linseed oil, its slow drying time allowed artists to blend colors seamlessly, achieving subtle gradations and realistic effects. Here, the figures are carefully modeled with light and shadow, particularly in the folds of their garments, and the smooth surface conveys a sense of depth and volume, all of which testify to Carpaccio’s control over his medium. In contrast to fresco and tempera, the portability of oil on canvas allowed paintings to circulate more freely, increasing the status of the artist and the commodification of art. Carpaccio and his contemporaries elevated painting to an intellectual pursuit, while also responding to the increasing market demand for religious imagery in Venice. The materials and making of this painting are integral to its meaning, and its status as both a devotional object and a work of artistic skill.