The Entry of the French Ambassador into Venice in 1706 1706 - 1708

Luca Carlevarijs created this large canvas in 1706 using oil paint, a medium which allowed him to capture the scene's intricate details. Oil paint is made by grinding pigments into a drying oil – usually linseed – and the history of its use is also a history of global trade. To make this painting, Carlevarijs would have relied on a complex system of production, not unlike the elaborate ceremonies he depicted. From the mining of raw materials for pigments, to the preparation of the canvas, to the skilled brushwork, this painting is a material record of many hands at work. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist used thin, translucent glazes to build up layers of color and create subtle atmospheric effects. The luminous quality of the paint enhances the opulence of the scene, full of figures in a landscape that is also a waterscape. Recognizing the labor and materials involved allows us to appreciate its significance beyond its face value, blurring the lines between art, craft, and wider society.