Portrait of a Young Woman as a Wise Virgin c. 1510

Sebastiano del Piombo painted this portrait on a wood panel using oil paints. Notice how the artist has built up the image through layers of thin glazes. This was a common technique at the time. However, the way del Piombo worked with oil paint had a huge impact on the image. Oil paint allowed for seamless gradations of tone, and a richness of color. In the young woman’s blue dress, the paint becomes almost luminous, reflecting light in a way that seems to mimic the sheen of satin. Consider the labor involved: from grinding the pigments, mixing them with oil, and applying them with meticulous care. This was all highly skilled work. The choice of oil paint speaks to the cultural aspirations of the Renaissance, as the layering of the paint, and the building of the image is no less a craft than the work of a potter or weaver. When we look closely at materials and making, we can gain a new appreciation for the artist’s skill.