The Glorification of the government of Burgundy 1786

Editor: Here we have Pierre-Paul Prud'hon's "The Glorification of the government of Burgundy" from 1786, an oil painting residing at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon. The piece feels intensely…constructed, almost like propaganda, with all the allegorical figures. What strikes you most about this artwork? Curator: As a materialist, I'm drawn to understanding how the very means of production influenced its message. Consider the scale: oil paint on canvas, a technology that allowed for large, portable works. How does this materiality support or perhaps even critique the supposed divine right being depicted? What kind of labor went into the making? Who paid for the expensive materials and time Prud'hon spent? These questions are crucial. Editor: So, beyond just the surface-level symbolism, you’re interested in the economics and labor surrounding its creation. That makes me consider how the cost of paint affected his color choices. Curator: Exactly! Did the available pigments influence the composition? The luminosity— achieved through layers of glazes—speaks to both Prud'hon's technical skill and the accessibility of certain materials to him. We also need to examine where the materials came from –the mines and trade routes! How did the social and political landscape in Burgundy impact Prud'hon’s access? And consider, who was this artwork made for, really? Not the common people, I suspect. Editor: Right. Knowing more about that relationship between patron and painter offers such a richer understanding than just reading it as pure political praise. Thank you! Curator: It's through examining the tangible reality of artistic production that we uncover its complex meanings, even beneath swirling angels. Always consider the raw materials as much as the finished product!