Holy Family with an Angel c. 18th century

Editor: This is Francesco Bartolozzi's "Holy Family with an Angel," a beautiful drawing at the Harvard Art Museums. The angel seems to be offering the Christ child something, but what is it? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Notice how the fruits held by Joseph mirror the fruitfulness promised through Christ. The angel's presence, a winged messenger, further emphasizes the divine promise. Consider, also, how the gazes converge on the child, visually linking earthly and divine realms. What enduring symbols do you recognize? Editor: I hadn't considered the fruit and the gazes as connected meanings. It's amazing how much symbolism can be embedded within an image. Curator: Indeed. Visual symbols can offer powerful connections to cultural memory.