Selene and Endymion c. 1680

Gerard de Lairesse created this rendition of Selene and Endymion with oil on canvas. Lairesse was a master of the classical style, which was very popular at the time. But it is worth considering what was actually involved in achieving the illusion of ease that you see here. The canvas itself would have been carefully prepared, stretched and primed to provide a smooth surface. The oil paints, made from ground pigments mixed with linseed oil, would have been applied in multiple layers, each meticulously blended to create a seamless effect. Lairesse would have relied on assistants to help him with the many stages of production. It took a team to produce this type of history painting, and the result embodies more than one person’s skill or vision. This painting reflects the broader economic and social structures of the time, where art production was organized much like any other industry. Ultimately, thinking about the labor involved deepens our appreciation, allowing us to see it as a product of collective effort.