Postumius Tiburzius Tötet Seinen Sohn 1535

Domenico Beccafumi painted 'Postumius Tiburzius Tötet Seinen Sohn' using tempera on panel. Here, paint becomes the window through which we view a scene heavy with moral weight, its texture and color building both the naturalistic form of the scene and the emotional atmosphere within. Beccafumi’s masterful handling of tempera allows him to blend and layer pigments, achieving luminosity and depth that draw the viewer into this tragic moment. This act of parricide is not just a story rendered in paint, but a potent representation of societal values and the price of honor. The material itself, though traditional, is elevated through the artist's craft, blurring the lines between the act of painting and the construction of cultural meaning. Beccafumi asks us to consider not just what is depicted, but how the very act of creation contributes to the narrative's enduring impact.