Dido And Aeneas 1747

Pompeo Batoni painted this classical scene, Dido and Aeneas, using oil on canvas. It’s an interesting contrast, the artist employing traditional methods to depict a scene of high drama. Look at how the paint is applied, building up layers of color and texture. Oil paint allows for a certain luminosity, a quality Batoni uses to great effect in the figures' skin tones. The figures are idealized, their forms smooth and refined, a nod to classical sculpture. Their robes, painted with bold brushstrokes and a limited palette, evoke a sense of immediacy. The canvas, likely prepared with layers of gesso, provides a smooth surface for the oil paint to adhere to, while the wooden stretcher gives it support. But it's the artist's hand, his skill in blending and layering the pigments, that truly brings the scene to life. By mastering the process, Batoni was able to make his mark on the world of fine art.