The Wedding at Cana 

Giuseppe Maria Crespi painted *The Wedding at Cana* in the 17th century, using oil on canvas, a traditional medium at the time. The loose, free brushwork creates a sense of immediacy. Look closely, and you can see how the paint itself becomes a key part of the story. The artist has built up layers of pigment to create depth and texture, especially in the rendering of fabrics and skin. The skillful manipulation of paint shows Crespi's mastery of the established techniques of his day. But it's not just about technical skill. Crespi's choice of materials – the canvas, the pigments, the oil – connect him to a whole network of production. The making of paint was an industry in itself, with specialized craftspeople preparing and selling materials to artists. Crespi's painting, like any artwork, is the product of labor, both his own and that of many others. By understanding the materials and processes that went into this painting, we can appreciate the full scope of its creation.