The Meeting of Pope Leo and Attila 

Francesco Solimena painted “The Meeting of Pope Leo and Attila” during the late 17th or early 18th century, employing oil paint on canvas. Look closely and you will see that Solimena has used rapid, expressive brushstrokes to create a sense of drama and movement, while also displaying a mastery of light and shadow. This technique, known as chiaroscuro, was a hallmark of Baroque painting, heightening the emotional impact of the scene, with the figures emerging from a dark background. The material qualities of the oil paint, its viscosity and luminosity, allow the artist to depict the textures of the fabrics, the metallic gleam of the armor, and the flesh tones of the figures. Solimena was working within a long tradition of academic painting, so these artistic decisions can be understood within the broader history of European art, and the economic system that sustained it. The canvas itself was an expensive commodity, as were the pigments used to create the painting. The artist was supported by wealthy patrons who commissioned works like this one, reflecting both their social status and cultural aspirations.