Saint Andrew c. 1480

This image of Saint Andrew was created by an anonymous artist using pigment on parchment. It's a humble object, made with simple means: ground minerals for color, painstakingly applied to animal skin. The very flatness of the image, the way colors are laid down with such directness, speaks to the labor involved. Saint Andrew, identified by his attribute, the saltire cross, stands as a testament to the value placed on handcraft in medieval times. The artist's engagement with the materials—the grind of pigment, the scrape of quill on parchment—is integral to its meaning. Consider the social context: art created not for individual recognition, but for the glory of the church. The making process embodies a set of shared beliefs and values. This piece challenges our modern separation of art and craft, reminding us that all creative acts are rooted in material practice.