Portrait of the Architect Giuseppe Valadier c. 1795

Pietro Labruzzi painted this portrait of the Architect Giuseppe Valadier, using oil on canvas. The smooth surface belies the many layers applied to achieve such accurate likeness and texture. Look closely and you will see the artist’s skillful manipulation of the oil paint: thin glazes give depth to the skin tones, and thicker impasto brings light to the ruffled cuffs and folds of Valadier's blue jacket. Labruzzi’s command of the medium is evident in the way he captures the weight and drape of the fabric, and the soft, almost palpable quality of the sitter's hands. There is a kind of labor involved in the act of painting itself, a slow accumulation of skillful touches that build up to a convincing likeness. Though we may not think of painting as craft, the handling of oil paint requires just as much technical knowledge as any other medium. Ultimately, understanding the materiality and the making of such a painting allows us to appreciate the artistry and skill of its creator, and the many hours of labour involved in its production.