San Barnaba 1606

Giulio Cesare Procaccini rendered San Barnaba in oil on canvas sometime around the turn of the 17th century. Procaccini, trained as a sculptor, brought his understanding of form to his paintings, evident here in the monumental figure of Barnabas, his form developed through layers of glazing. Procaccini mastered the traditional painterly techniques of drawing, imprimatura, layering and blending to bring out the inherent qualities of oil paint, especially its capacity to mimic skin and fabric. The artist applied the paint in thin layers, building up color and texture to create a luminous effect. Note the dark shadows and dramatic highlights, a technique known as chiaroscuro, that animates the figures and creates a sense of depth. His practice was enmeshed in the prevailing social and economic conditions of his time, where artistic skill was both a means of personal expression and a means to financial security. His paintings, like all works of art, involved a complex interplay of artistic labor, materials, and market forces. Recognizing the value of materials, making, and context enhances our understanding of this artwork, encouraging us to challenge conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.