Saints Peter and John Healing the Lame Man 1655

Nicolas Poussin created “Saints Peter and John Healing the Lame Man” using oil paints, a medium that allowed for rich color and smooth blending. Poussin was extremely attentive to the materiality of paint, layering thin glazes to create depth and luminosity. The work involved precise brushwork and careful planning, reflecting a highly intellectual approach to painting. His approach involved preliminary sketches and studies, resulting in a composition that appears both natural and carefully constructed. The act of painting was labor-intensive, involving the grinding of pigments, mixing of oils, and application of paint in multiple layers. Poussin’s technique aligns with the prevailing academic standards of his time, emphasizing skill, knowledge, and artistic discipline. Yet it's worth considering the social implications of such a polished style, and how it reinforces a hierarchy between fine art and the more direct, immediate forms of craft.