Jesus beneath the winepress 

Ambrogio Bergognone's "Jesus beneath the winepress" was made using fresco, a traditional method of painting on freshly plastered walls. The earthy, muted tones are due to the natural pigments mixed into the wet plaster. The artist worked quickly, completing sections while the plaster was still damp, a process that demanded careful planning and skilled execution. You can see the slightly rough texture, almost like skin, which is a direct result of this process. Fresco painting was a labor-intensive process, usually involving teams of artisans. From preparing the wall to grinding pigments and applying the paint, each stage required specific knowledge and expertise. In the context of the time, such murals not only decorated spaces, but also served as visual narratives for the largely illiterate population. In this way, craft traditions are intrinsically linked to broader cultural and social meanings. Considering the materials, making and context encourages us to look past conventional notions of fine art, and toward the complex web of practices that give objects meaning.