Clara the Rhinoceros 1749

Jean-Baptiste Oudry rendered this image of Clara the Rhinoceros in oil paint, a medium favored for its capacity to capture subtle gradations of color. The smooth surface of the painting belies the labor involved in its production. Oudry would have built up layer upon layer of pigment, carefully blending each to create the illusion of three-dimensionality. Look closely, and you will see how he used highlights and shadows to model Clara’s imposing form, conveying the texture of her hide with remarkable accuracy. Oil painting had been elevated to the status of fine art, but it was also a trade, a form of skilled labor, which demanded time and patience. This painting reminds us that all artistic creation is rooted in the material world, even when the subject is as exotic as Clara. It challenges us to reconsider how we value art, recognizing the skill and effort that goes into its making.