The Visitation 

The Limbourg brothers made this illumination, The Visitation, with pigments and gold leaf on vellum in the early 15th century. Medieval illuminated manuscripts were luxury objects, and the vibrant colors seen here are testament to the expense of the materials. Ultramarine, the rich blue of Mary’s robe, was derived from lapis lazuli, a stone mined in Afghanistan. The gold leaf surrounding the figures was painstakingly applied, burnished to a reflective sheen. Consider the labor involved in creating this miniature world. The grinding of pigments, the precise application of gold, the meticulous rendering of details with a fine brush – all required years of training. The Limbourg brothers were part of a highly skilled, specialized workforce, producing exquisite objects for wealthy patrons. The very value of this artwork resides in the intensive labor and precious materials used to produce it. By focusing on the materials and processes behind The Visitation, we can appreciate the social and economic context in which it was made, blurring the lines between art and craft.