St Victor of Siena 1348 - 1352

Editor: Here we have "St Victor of Siena," a tempera on wood panel by the Master of the Palazzo Venezia Madonna, created sometime between 1348 and 1352. The figure feels quite stoic. I'm struck by the very tangible materiality of the panel itself. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: For me, the value lies in understanding the artist's process, specifically with tempera. How did they source the pigments? The labor involved in grinding and mixing, layer upon layer? This wasn't some spontaneous burst of inspiration, but a deliberate construction involving specific, valuable materials, think about the international trade networks that could have provided the gold. It begs the question: How does this object participate in a larger economic and social framework? Editor: So, the gold, the pigments, even the wood panel itself, tell a story of trade and access. That's fascinating. Do you think that focus diminishes the spiritual significance, or enhances it? Curator: I argue that the two are inseparable. The act of creating, especially devotional objects, was a deeply embedded process. Consider, for example, how the patronage system impacted what art was created. We cannot just look at the image as it appears without thinking of who was employing the artist to produce the work, as it will give us better understanding of the artist's constraints. Editor: That makes so much sense. Viewing it in that light, understanding the inputs, transforms my perception entirely. Thank you for shifting my perspective. Curator: Indeed. Examining the work as a product of labour and resources allows us to grasp its complete historical and social meaning.