Ezekiel’s Vision 1517 - 1518

Raphael painted this vision of Ezekiel in the early 16th century, using oil paint on panel. Oil paint, favored for its slow drying time and capacity to be layered, allowed Raphael to achieve the luminous, almost glowing quality seen in this artwork. He would have begun with a carefully prepared wood panel, coated with gesso to create a smooth surface. The application of oil paint was a labor-intensive process, requiring knowledge of color mixing, and an understanding of how the paint would react over time. The finished effect is less about the inherent qualities of the materials themselves, than it is about the skill, time and effort involved in producing it. The subject matter, a biblical vision, speaks to the social and cultural context of the time, deeply rooted in religious belief. Yet, the materiality and making of the artwork are also crucial, reminding us that even the most ethereal of visions must be grounded in earthly processes. This is not just a depiction of a divine moment, but also a testament to the artist's labor, and the cultural values placed on skilled craftsmanship.