Virgin and Child with Saint Joseph 1550 - 1599

This small panel painting, *Virgin and Child with Saint Joseph*, made by an anonymous artist, probably in the Netherlands, is rendered in oil paint, a relatively new medium at the time. Oil allowed for greater realism than previous painting methods because the artist could slowly build up layers of paint. The detailed folds of the clothing, the soft skin of the figures, and the textures of the simple meal laid out before them are all a testament to the painter’s skill with this new medium. The setting and composition of the painting reflect a growing interest in depicting religious figures in everyday, domestic scenes. The use of oil paint allowed the artist to capture the textures and details of these ordinary objects, elevating them to a level of significance previously reserved for more overtly symbolic elements. Consider this painting a celebration of the material world and the craftsmanship required to represent it so vividly. It encourages us to appreciate the way humble materials and skilled making come together.