The Virgin Mary in Glory 1524

Jan Provoost painted *The Virgin Mary in Glory* around 1520 with oil on wood panel, traditional materials of the time. The vibrant colors achieved through oil paint are striking, but so is the labor-intensive process required to create such a large, detailed piece. Pigments had to be extracted, mixed, and carefully layered to achieve the desired luminosity and depth, and each element had to be perfectly proportioned and shaded. The use of costly materials such as ultramarine, derived from lapis lazuli, signals the affluence of the patron who commissioned the work. We can appreciate the artist’s skill and the economic conditions that made its creation possible, highlighting the social context in which art is made. By focusing on materials and making, we expand our understanding of the artwork, challenging traditional notions of fine art and craft.