Saint Simon 1450 - 1470

Editor: Here we have a sculpture, "Saint Simon," created sometime between 1450 and 1470 in the Southern Netherlands. It's carved from wood and, overall, the piece gives me a sense of solemnity. How would you interpret this work? Curator: Let’s think about the context in which this piece was created. Consider the Northern Renaissance workshop— the labour, the skill involved in carving wood to achieve this level of detail in the drapery and the face. Can you imagine the economics that would sustain such output, who paid for it and what the patrons hoped to achieve by commissioning such an elaborate wooden sculpture? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn’t thought about the actual economics of it. So, is the type of wood significant here? And does it affect the overall value and how it might have been used in a specific context? Curator: Precisely! The choice of wood matters. Was it locally sourced, or imported? What does that tell us about trade routes and the flow of resources? Further, consider the time investment. Sculptures like these would have been destined for private devotion. Think about its location, its physical context: a wealthy family's home altar? A chapel? Editor: So it wasn’t just about religious expression; it was also a display of wealth and access to skilled craftsmanship. Curator: Exactly. And by analyzing the material choices, the craftsmanship involved, we can unpack layers of meaning and social context that go far beyond just the depiction of Saint Simon. Editor: I see what you mean. It shifts my focus from just the artistic representation to the actual labor and social conditions of its creation. Thanks, I’ve definitely learned to look at these older works in new ways!