Raising of the Daughter of Jairus 1546

Paolo Veronese painted this oil on canvas depicting the Raising of the Daughter of Jairus. The artist’s skilled application of oil paint is evident in the textured brushstrokes and the rich color palette. Veronese carefully constructed the composition using layers of thin paint which allowed him to build up form and depth, resulting in a luminous quality. This involved sourcing, mixing, and applying pigments with precision, a labor-intensive process reflecting both the traditions of painting and the demands of the commissioning system that sustained artists like Veronese. Here we see the intersection of craft and fine art. Veronese masterfully manipulates the materials, showcasing the artist's proficiency in rendering fabrics, architecture, and human figures. The layers of oil paint, the control of the brushstrokes, and the attention to detail are testaments to Veronese’s expertise in his craft. Looking at the artist’s working process allows us to understand the social context of artistic production, bridging the gap between the artist’s skill and the economic and cultural forces that shaped his art.