The Feast of Herod c. 1638 - 1640

Peter Paul Rubens painted 'The Feast of Herod', a scene rendered in oil paint, a medium which allows for the lush surfaces, and vibrant colors for which he is known. Rubens applied his colors in many thin layers, carefully building up the image to create the luminous effects we see here. The application of oil paint also allowed him to achieve a remarkable level of detail. Note the intricate rendering of fabrics, jewelry, and skin tones; all indications of wealth and status of the sitters, and the labor which went into their production. Rubens’s skilled manipulation of the materials elevated the status of the painting, and aligned it with the cultural and economic elite of the time. Ultimately, the way in which 'The Feast of Herod' was made is inseparable from its meaning, challenging any neat separation of art and craft.