Pope Urban VIII 1632

This portrait of Pope Urban VIII was painted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, using oil on canvas. Bernini was principally a sculptor, so it's interesting to consider this painting in relation to his three-dimensional work. The oil paint is applied in a way that is almost sculptural in itself, with thick impasto conveying the weight and volume of the Pope's garments and beard. Look closely, and you'll see how Bernini used the brush to model form, much as he would use a chisel to carve marble. We can also think about the labor involved, not just in the making of the painting, but in the Pope's vestments. The tailoring and embroidery would have involved many skilled hands, all working to glorify the image of the Catholic Church. Bernini was acutely aware of the social context of making, and this portrait is as much about power and patronage as it is about artistic skill. It is another kind of craft.