Saint Lucy 1499 - 1532

Editor: This is "Saint Lucy" by Francesco Zaganelli, created sometime between 1499 and 1532. It’s a tempera painting. I’m immediately struck by the stark contrast in values, and I'm curious to know what kind of interpretations we can derive by understanding Zaganelli's choice of medium and historical setting. What are your initial thoughts? Curator: Well, the use of tempera is interesting here. It's an older medium than oil, demanding precision and speed. How might this influence the types of labor expected from Zaganelli and his workshop? Editor: It implies less room for error, and potentially a larger team contributing to the different stages… but why choose tempera over newer oil techniques? Curator: Precisely. Perhaps tempera allowed for a specific control over pigments. The intense contrast between the black background and Saint Lucy’s pallid skin. We must ask, what type of patron would commission such a piece, specifying such a demand regarding technique, given its clear link to a tradition. Editor: The fact that it’s tempera provides a tangible connection to a very particular style of production at this moment in time. And the social ties implicit to that? Fascinating. I’m seeing so many different levels now. Curator: Yes! Considering the socioeconomic forces, we might understand more about how artistic choices like medium reveal details on material consumption at the time. What stories does the choice of tempera, instead of oil, tell about that specific production, the labor required, and who commissioned it? Editor: This painting now sparks many different paths of exploration about this period! Curator: Exactly! Now we’re on our way.