Martyrdom of the Carmelites 1517

Jerg Ratgeb made this fresco depicting the Martyrdom of the Carmelites. Fresco is a wall painting technique where pigment is applied to wet plaster. The result is a deep integration of the image and its architectural support. To achieve this, Ratgeb would have prepared the wall with layers of coarse and fine plaster, cartooned his composition onto the surface, and then applied his paints quickly before the plaster dried. The very speed of execution required meant he would have to use assistants, and perhaps even assembly-line techniques, dividing up the labor. We might ask: how does the materiality of fresco affect our understanding of the work? The rough texture of the plaster gives the figures a grounded, earthly quality. And the colors, while muted, possess a warmth that reflects the natural pigments used. It reminds us that art doesn't emerge from nowhere: It is born from material, labor, and the physical world. These are all things to consider when experiencing art.