The Death of Dido 1640

Peter Paul Rubens painted 'The Death of Dido' on canvas, most likely sometime in the early 17th century. The rich oil paint and the large scale of this piece speaks volumes about the economy and the artistic conventions of the time. Rubens was a master of layering paint to achieve luminosity and a sense of depth, as you can see in the queen's pearlescent skin, and the deep red of the bedsheets. The application of paint in this piece isn't just about technique; it's a reflection of the social and economic structures that supported the art world at the time. High quality pigments were expensive, and the time required to create such a detailed painting would have meant that he probably had assistants in his studio, each trained in specific tasks. Rubens himself was something of a businessman, running a large workshop that produced art for a wealthy clientele. His ability to manage materials, labor, and commissions was as crucial to his success as his artistic talent.