St. John Altarpiece left wing 1479

This left wing of the St. John Altarpiece, by Hans Memling, was painted in oil on wood panel. Look closely and you’ll see how the material influences the appearance of the work: the smooth, gessoed surface of the panel and the slow drying time of oil paint allowed Memling to build up layers of translucent glazes, creating subtle variations in color and tone. The controlled nature of the medium lends itself to intricate details such as the fine damask fabrics and the minute rendering of architectural features in the background. Wood panel painting was a highly skilled craft, involving guilds, workshops, and collaborative labor. Preparing the panel, grinding pigments, and mixing paints all required specialized knowledge and manual dexterity. While Memling was highly regarded as an artist, his work was also embedded in a broader system of production. Paying attention to materials and making helps us appreciate not only the artist's skill, but also the social and economic context in which the artwork was created, breaking down divisions between art, craft, and labor.