Chigi Palace on the Park 1847

Alexander Ivanov's "Chigi Palace on the Park" is a beautiful example of oil on canvas, dating back to the 19th century. Looking at the brushwork, the artist's labor becomes apparent; the way the paint is applied, thickly in some areas, thinly in others, captures light and shadow to create depth and texture. Ivanov's masterful depiction of the Italian landscape is rich and vibrant; the very substance of the painting—the pigment, the oil, the canvas—all lend themselves to this end. He deploys these traditional materials to evoke a lived reality that is in tension with the subject of the palace. It is an artwork of great beauty, but also one of immense labor and social position. Ivanov’s painterly skill, using classical materials, helps us see a world caught between romanticism and social reality.