Baxandall
Baxandall uses the available documentation from the 15th century to describe in detail the transactions that have taken place in art. In this first part of his book, Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy, he takes us through the different kinds of relationships between various artists and their clients, the demands of the clients from artists, and also the reason why artists used specific materials for art. While most artists were mainly freelancers with numerous clients, others had a consistent client and did art as a full-time job. As Baxandall states, the material that most clients sought for in artworks was gold, showing the reason why gold was and is still so valuable. However, with time, various artists developed the skill of using paint to make a material look like gold, leading to the recognition of the ability and talent of artists.
Baxandall’s explanation of these changes and processes in the world of art provides insights into why 15th-century art looks the way it is and the lives of the professional artists of that time. Such research makes the study of art to be more accurate and also enables art students to understand why the artist used certain materials, styles, and colors. Baxandall provides clarifications to the processes involved between master and apprentice in the art world. Somehow the person to be compensated in such processes has always puzzled me. Seemingly, the apprentice gains, in terms of learning while on the other hand the master gains in terms of having a flexible, though not competent, human resource. Therefore, my question after reading this chapter is, do you think that the master-apprentice processes and relationship of the 15th century artist, as Baxandall explains, should be considered ethically right?