The Calling of St. Peter and St. Andrew 1481

Domenico Ghirlandaio painted this fresco of The Calling of St. Peter and St. Andrew in the late 15th century. The fresco medium itself carries immense social weight. Applying pigments to wet plaster demands not only artistic skill, but also coordinated labor and the use of naturally sourced materials like ground minerals for color, and lime for the plaster itself. The composition, arranged in distinct groups, highlights this interplay of materials and making. The figures, with their carefully rendered drapery, stand in contrast to the broad strokes used to depict the landscape. These textures speak to Ghirlandaio's mastery of the fresco technique. Consider too, the permanence of fresco. Once dry, the pigments are bound inextricably to the wall, a testament to both the skill of the artist and the enduring power of belief. By understanding the labor and materials that went into its creation, we can appreciate the depth of meaning embedded within this iconic artwork.