The Adoration of the Magi 1569

Jacopo Bassano painted this Adoration of the Magi sometime in the 16th century, using oil paints on canvas. The colours are rich, and the surfaces are built up with visible brushstrokes, a painterly quality that speaks to the artist's skill and the value placed on individual expression at this time. The figures are solid, with weight and volume created by the careful application of light and shadow. Notice how the artist plays with texture – from the rough garments of the shepherds to the smooth skin of the baby Jesus. The artwork's colours are carefully orchestrated. Each layer of pigment requires time and skill to build up the overall image, and this labour-intensive process elevates the status of the finished painting. The canvas support itself would have been carefully prepared, stretched, and primed to receive the paint. When we consider the labour and materials involved in its creation, we see how the making of the artwork is intrinsically linked to its meaning. The Adoration of the Magi thus serves as a reminder that all art objects are products of specific social and economic conditions, challenging any simple divide between artistic expression and material culture.