Crucifixion of Saint Peter 1660

Luca Giordano’s “Crucifixion of Saint Peter” is rendered with oil paints, a medium that allows for rich color and dramatic lighting effects. The materiality of oil paint contributes to the artwork’s powerful sense of drama, crucial for the communication of religious and historical narratives. Giordano was able to build up layers of pigment, creating a palpable sense of depth and texture. Look closely, and you will see the ways in which the paint seems to model the very flesh of the figures depicted. The process of oil painting in Giordano’s time involved the careful grinding and mixing of pigments with oil, often by workshop assistants. The smooth, almost polished surfaces belie the work involved in preparing the materials, an often invisible, yet essential aspect of art production, intimately tied to the social and economic structures of artistic workshops. In considering the materiality and making of “Crucifixion of Saint Peter”, we gain a deeper understanding of the labor, skill, and historical context that underpin its creation, inviting us to look beyond the image itself and consider the world that made it possible.