Arcangelo Raffaele E Tobiolo 

Antonio del Pollaiolo’s painting, Arcangelo Raffaele E Tobiolo, probably dates to the latter half of the 15th century. It’s painted in oil and tempera on wood, a common support for the period. But what does the use of these materials, and this particular combination of them, tell us? Well, tempera was a quick-drying paint, made from egg yolk. Oil paint, meanwhile, allowed for much greater subtlety and nuance in modeling form, and representing light. It’s thought that painters north of the Alps, especially Jan van Eyck, were the first to fully exploit oil paint’s potential. Pollaiuolo was keen to explore these effects himself, and this painting beautifully represents the cross-fertilization of Italian and Northern Renaissance aesthetics. The composition is built up from very careful brushwork, with delicate glazes of color built up, especially in the background. This would have been a laborious, skillful process, requiring not only a knowledge of technique, but also a great deal of patience. The material and mode of production are thus critical to appreciating the image. The hand of the artist is everywhere apparent. It’s easy to see why paintings like this were so highly prized, both then and now.