Queen Cleophis Offering Wine to Alexander the Great after his Conquest of Mazaka after 1700

Gerard Hoet painted this scene on canvas, using oil paints, sometime before 1733. In this formal composition, observe how Hoet employed his materials to create a sense of depth and texture. The smooth application of oil paint allows for meticulous detailing, evident in the soldiers’ armor and the delicate fabrics worn by Queen Cleophis and her attendants. Consider the social context of oil painting. The layering of glazes, and the time required for each layer to dry – all this added to the expense, making it a technique favored by the wealthy. The skilled labor involved in grinding pigments and preparing the canvas further contributed to the value of the artwork. The material itself becomes a marker of status, reflecting the patronage system of the time, and the economic disparities it sustained. Examining Hoet’s painting through the lens of materials and production invites us to see beyond the surface of the artwork, and to recognize the networks of labor, class, and consumption that shaped its creation.