The Transfiguration 1520

"The Transfiguration" was made by Raphael in the early 16th century with oil paint on a large wood panel. Think about what it took to produce a work like this. From the pigments painstakingly ground from minerals and plants, to the many layers of translucent oil meticulously applied, it was a highly labor-intensive process. The sheer scale of the painting alone signifies a major investment of time. This would have been a collaborative effort, involving assistants to prepare the materials and underpaint the composition. By understanding this collective effort, we can appreciate the value and social context in which it was produced. Ultimately, appreciating the material reality of works like "The Transfiguration" allows us to move beyond questions of subject matter and consider the broader cultural and economic factors that shaped their creation.