The Virgin and Child 1643

Alonzo Cano painted The Virgin and Child in oil paint, likely sometime in the mid-17th century. Look closely at the way the paint is handled, the sweeping gestures used to create the Virgin’s robes. See how the artist created an interplay between light and shadow by layering thin glazes of pigment on top of one another. This was a common technique at the time, one which allowed for the build-up of great visual complexity, while retaining a sense of luminosity. Oil paint allowed artists like Cano to achieve a high degree of realism, creating an illusion of texture and depth. Although we can't know for sure the social context of the piece, the use of expensive materials signals the patron was wealthy. The painting would have been created in a workshop with apprentices helping to prepare the paints and prime the canvas. This division of labor was typical of the period. Ultimately, understanding the materials, the making, and the social context is crucial to understanding the full meaning of the artwork and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.