The Holy Family with Saints Francis and Anne and the Infant Saint John the Baptist 

Peter Paul Rubens painted “The Holy Family with Saints Francis and Anne and the Infant Saint John the Baptist” with oil on canvas, sometime in the early 17th century. The smooth canvas surface and the fluid properties of oil paint allowed Rubens to create luminous colors, and subtle gradations of tone, capturing the textures of skin, fabric, and foliage. Look closely, and you can see the rapid brushstrokes. This was a mark of the artist’s skill. In Rubens' time, artistic training was often organized through workshops, where apprentices learned techniques like grinding pigments, preparing canvases, and mixing paints, before rising to the level of studio assistants who helped the master artist create his compositions. The use of preparatory drawings and underpainting was common practice. This allowed for efficiency in the division of labor, a real factory model that was good for productivity but also for the maintenance of workshop secrets. Understanding these material factors provides insight into the collaborative nature of artistic production, and the value placed on technical skill, within the context of early modern workshops.