Democritus 1653

Luca Giordano painted this image of Democritus using oil on canvas. The very qualities of oil paint – the viscosity, the way it reflects light – are important to consider here. Look how the artist layers paint to build up form, particularly in the figure’s face, imbuing him with a sense of life and vitality. Giordano’s process involved both careful planning and spontaneous gestures, a technique very specific to the late Renaissance. Oil paint allowed for revisions and adjustments, so the artist could refine his composition, adding depth and texture, such as the contrast between light and shadow. In this respect, the image departs from fresco and tempera, the earlier traditions used in panel painting, shifting towards the type of easel painting we would associate with a modern studio. Ultimately, this way of working would become associated with notions of individual genius, as the artist could develop their vision through a sustained, solitary process.