Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep 1624

Claude Vignon painted ‘Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep’ with oil on canvas. Look closely, and you’ll notice the artist’s expressive brushwork, particularly the impasto technique, where thick layers of paint create texture, dimension, and movement. This wasn’t just a matter of aesthetics; it was a performative act. The physical process of applying the paint, of building up the image layer by layer, became an integral part of the artwork’s meaning. And the cost of all that pigment! High-quality oil paints were expensive, reflecting a patron who valued both technical skill and the rich materiality of the medium. It’s important to remember that making art has always been a form of labour, embedded within a network of social relationships, and economics. ‘Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep’ reveals how materials, processes, and context intertwine to give art its full significance.