Stories of St. Jerome 1577

This is Alessandro Allori’s “Stories of St. Jerome” in Santa Maria Novella, Florence. The painting is made using fresco, a technique where pigments are applied to wet plaster, meaning the artwork becomes part of the wall itself. Consider how labor intensive fresco is, requiring careful planning and quick execution. It shows us the value that was placed on visual storytelling in the 16th century, and how it was embedded in the very architecture around us. The pigments, derived from minerals and plants, were carefully chosen for their vibrancy and durability. Allori's fresco demonstrates a complex understanding of materials, from the preparation of the plaster to the mixing of pigments. The act of applying the paint layer by layer, mixing it into the plaster, is a testament to the skill of the artist. By understanding these aspects, we appreciate not only the image but the labor, expertise, and cultural values invested in its making.