The Zephyr c. 1814

Pierre-Paul Prud'hon created *The Zephyr* with oil on canvas. The canvas ground is heavily primed, providing a rough tooth for the oil paint to latch onto. Look closely and you’ll see the artist built up the figure of Zephyr with layers, creating subtle gradations of light and shadow. Prud'hon’s deft handling of the material gives Zephyr a soft, almost dreamlike quality, as the figure emerges from the dark background. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the crafting of painting materials was a complex undertaking, involving specialized knowledge and skilled labor. Pigments were sourced from various locations, ground into powders, and mixed with oil to create paint. Brushes were carefully constructed from animal hairs, and canvases were stretched and prepared by hand. The amount of work involved in the production process reflects the value placed on artistic skill and craftsmanship during this period.