Holy Family with the Young Saint John the Baptist 

Luca Giordano made this oil painting of the Holy Family in the late 17th century, during the Baroque period. Oil paint is a very flexible medium; its workability allowed Giordano to create soft, gradual shifts in color and tone. Notice the way he modeled the figures in the painting. The smoothness of the paint adds a lifelike quality to the skin tones and drapery, while the layers of color create depth and richness. The artist’s skill is also evident in the painting's composition. He created a harmonious arrangement of figures and objects, guiding our eye through the scene. While he was working at a time when artists were seen as more elevated than other makers, remember that this image only exists because of the long history of paint production, brushes, and linen canvas. Giordano's work participates in a much wider world of making.