Saint Louis of Toulouse Saint Jerome Saint Peter and 1493

Painted in the late 15th century by Carlo Crivelli, this panel of Saint Louis of Toulouse, Saint Jerome, and Saint Peter, is tempera on wood, a common material in the Renaissance. Consider the artist, carefully applying pigment to the prepared surface. Crivelli was working within a well-established tradition. His mastery depended on understanding his materials intimately, from the grain of the wood to the properties of each pigment. The tempera medium would have required its own expertise, mixing powdered pigments with egg yolk, a technique demanding precision and speed. The arrangement of figures in separate panels is a holdover from earlier altarpieces. But Crivelli’s meticulous technique brought a new level of realism to the tradition, making the holy figures seem more human, yet also more precious – each brushstroke imbued with the care befitting sacred subjects. It is important to remember that Crivelli's artistic skill was a kind of labor, requiring considerable training. Understanding the value of that labor helps us appreciate the full depth of this work, beyond the mere representation of holy figures.