St. Sebastian 1503

Raphael painted this small oil on panel depiction of St. Sebastian in the early 16th century. Raphael worked with oil paints, a relatively new medium at the time, allowing for subtle gradations of tone and luminosity. Layer upon layer of gesso was carefully prepared on the wood panel to create a smooth ground for the paint. The effect is ethereal, in keeping with the subject matter. Yet it’s also important to remember how grounded Raphael’s practice was in the realities of workshop production. Consider the pigments used to create the colors – likely derived from minerals laboriously mined and processed. These materials were costly, reflecting both the expense of the materials and the amount of human labor required to make them available to the artist. Even the subtle gold leaf of the halo speaks of highly specialized skills. Looking closely, it becomes clear that Raphael’s paintings are not just acts of individual genius, but also products of collective effort and economic investment.