Galileo Galilei 1630

This portrait of Galileo Galilei was painted by Peter Paul Rubens, sometime in the 17th century, using oil on canvas. Rubens was a master of this medium, known for his bravura brushwork, layering paint to create a vibrant and textured surface. But the materiality of oil paint is not just about technique, it's also about value. The pigments used would have been costly, reflecting the status of both the artist and his sitter. Consider the lapis lazuli, ground into ultramarine, or the ochres imported from specific regions. Oil paint had become the primary medium for ambitious artists, eclipsing humbler alternatives like tempera or fresco. In this context, Rubens's choice of materials signals his ambition, and the way that art was becoming increasingly tied to a market economy. Ultimately, reflecting on the materials and their social context helps us understand not just what is depicted, but also the world in which the work was made.