Death of Saint-Geneviève, Panthéon, Paris 

Jean-Paul Laurens painted this monumental canvas showing the Death of Saint Genevieve, using oil paint, a medium allowing for rich colors and detailed narratives. The scale of the painting is key. It was made specifically for the Panthéon in Paris, and meant to fill this vast space with its story. Laurens expertly wielded the materiality of oil paint to evoke a somber and reverent mood. Notice how he applied layers of glazes and scumbles, manipulating the pigment to create depth and luminosity, particularly in the saint's pale face and the surrounding light. Consider, too, that the making of such a large painting would have involved assistants, grinding pigments, preparing canvases. It's a production that speaks to the scale of artistic endeavor in the late 19th century, when academic painting was a highly valued skill. When we look closely at the materials and making of the artwork, we begin to see the way it ties into wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The Death of Saint Genevieve isn't just an image; it's a testament to the power of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.