Procession (left-hand portion of border below Sacrifice of Isaac, inlaid-marble pavement, Siena Cathedral) 1520 - 1550

This panel, made by Domenico Beccafumi, comes from the inlaid-marble pavement of Siena Cathedral. It is made using a technique called "commesso," which involves carefully fitting together pieces of different colored marbles to create an image. Consider the material itself; marble is quarried, cut, and polished. Here, the material's inherent qualities of color, texture, and weight all come into play. The contrast between light and dark marble creates the illusion of depth and form, crucial for conveying narrative. Making commesso is painstaking work, and the original pavement represents a substantial investment of labor and skill. Think of all the hands that touched the marble, from the quarrymen to the master craftsmen like Beccafumi. This object, and the pavement it was once a part of, challenges the traditional distinction between fine art and craft. It is a reminder that the meaning of a work of art is not only in its subject matter but also in the materials, making, and social context in which it was created.